Systems and methods for smart home automation using a multifunction status and entry point icon

ABSTRACT

A computing device is associated with one or more electronic devices in a smart home environment, the smart home environment having a plurality of environment statuses. A current environment status of the plurality of environment statuses is identified for the smart home environment. Based on the current environment status of the smart home environment, one of a plurality of different feature sets is determined for a smart home application executable on the computing device for interacting with the smart home environment. The determined feature set includes selectable commands for performing device functions associated with the current environment status. The determined feature set is provided to an instance of the smart home application, thereby enabling the instance to offer user interactions consistent with the selectable commands.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/738,930, filed Jun. 14, 2015, entitled “Methods and Systems forPresenting Multiple Live Video Feeds in a User Interface,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates generally to device control in a smart device environment,including but not limited to methods and systems for determining afeature set that includes selectable commands for performing devicefunctions in a smart device environment.

BACKGROUND

Smart devices and their use in enhancing and creating new technicalcapabilities for everyday tasks have increased dramatically. Given thatmany smart device environments typically contain multiple devices, anddevices of many different types, users often struggle to manage smartdevice environments in an efficient manner, as most devices requireproprietary control mechanisms for device configuration andmanipulation. Consequently, there has been a growing need forconsolidated control and management of smart device environments and thedevices within them.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for methods, systems, and interfaces foridentifying a current environment status for a smart home environmentand determining, based on the current environment status, acorresponding feature set for interacting with the smart homeenvironment. By continually tracking and identifying a currentenvironment status of a smart home environment, users are provided withtargeted and meaningful command options for interacting with devices inthe smart home environment based on a current condition or state of thesmart home environment.

In accordance with some implementations, a method is performed at acomputing device having one or more processors and memory storinginstructions for execution by the one or more processors, wherein thecomputing device is associated with one or more electronic devices in asmart home environment, the smart home environment having a plurality ofenvironment statuses. The method includes identifying a currentenvironment status of the plurality of environment statuses for thesmart home environment. Based on the current environment status of thesmart home environment, one of a plurality of different feature sets fora smart home application executable on the computing device forinteracting with the smart home environment is determined, thedetermined feature set including selectable commands for performingdevice functions associated with the current environment status. Thedetermined feature set is then provided to an instance of the smart homeapplication, thereby enabling the instance to offer user interactionsconsistent with the selectable commands.

In accordance with some implementations, a computing device includes atleast a processor and memory storing one or more programs for executionby the processor, the one or more programs including instructions forperforming the operations of the method described above. In accordancewith some implementations, a computer readable storage medium has storedtherein one or more programs having instructions which, when executed byan electronic device having one or more processors, cause the electronicdevice to perform the operations of the method described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various described implementations,reference should be made to the Description of Implementations below, inconjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numeralsrefer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is an example smart home environment, in accordance with someimplementations.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example network architecturethat includes a smart home network, in accordance with someimplementations.

FIG. 3 illustrates a network-level view of an extensible devices andservices platform with which the smart home environment of FIG. 1 isintegrated, in accordance with some implementations.

FIG. 4 illustrates an abstracted functional view of the extensibledevices and services platform of FIG. 3, with reference to a processingengine as well as devices of the smart home environment, in accordancewith some implementations.

FIG. 5 is a representative operating environment in which a hub deviceserver system interacts with client devices and hub devicescommunicatively coupled to local smart devices, in accordance with someimplementations.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a representative hub device, inaccordance with some implementations.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a representative hub serversystem, in accordance with some implementations.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a representative client deviceassociated with a user account, in accordance with some implementations.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a representative smart device, inaccordance with some implementations.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a representative smart homeprovider server system, in accordance with some implementations.

FIGS. 11A-11AW illustrate exemplary graphical user interfaces (GUIs) ona computing device for displaying environment statuses, displayingdevice states, and providing feature sets for interacting with a smarthome environment, in accordance with some implementations.

FIGS. 12A-12F are flow diagrams illustrating a method of determining aset of features based on a current environment status, in accordancewith some implementations.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATIONS

Reference will now be made in detail to implementations, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the followingdetailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in orderto provide a thorough understanding of the various describedimplementations. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skillin the art that the various described implementations may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been describedin detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of theimplementations.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, theseelements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element from another. For example, a firstenvironment status could be termed a second environment status, and,similarly, a second environment status could be termed a firstenvironment status, without departing from the scope of the variousdescribed implementations. The first environment status and the secondenvironment status are both environment statuses, but they are not thesame environment status.

The terminology used in the description of the various describedimplementations herein is for the purpose of describing particularimplementations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in thedescription of the various described implementations and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as usedherein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when”or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting”or “in accordance with a determination that,” depending on the context.Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated conditionor event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event]” or “in accordance with a determination that [astated condition or event] is detected,” depending on the context.

It is to be appreciated that “smart home environments” may refer tosmart environments for homes such as a single-family house, but thescope of the present teachings is not so limited. The present teachingsare also applicable, without limitation, to duplexes, townhomes,multi-unit apartment buildings, hotels, retail stores, office buildings,industrial buildings, and more generally any living space or work space.

It is also to be appreciated that while the terms user, customer,installer, homeowner, occupant, guest, tenant, landlord, repair person,and the like may be used to refer to the person or persons acting in thecontext of some particularly situations described herein, thesereferences do not limit the scope of the present teachings with respectto the person or persons who are performing such actions. Thus, forexample, the terms user, customer, purchaser, installer, subscriber, andhomeowner may often refer to the same person in the case of asingle-family residential dwelling, because the head of the household isoften the person who makes the purchasing decision, buys the unit, andinstalls and configures the unit, and is also one of the users of theunit. However, in other scenarios, such as a landlord-tenantenvironment, the customer may be the landlord with respect to purchasingthe unit, the installer may be a local apartment supervisor, a firstuser may be the tenant, and a second user may again be the landlord withrespect to remote control functionality. Importantly, while the identityof the person performing the action may be germane to a particularadvantage provided by one or more of the implementations, such identityshould not be construed in the descriptions that follow as necessarilylimiting the scope of the present teachings to those particularindividuals having those particular identities.

FIG. 1 is an example smart home environment 100 in accordance with someimplementations. Smart home environment 100 includes a structure 150(e.g., a house, office building, garage, or mobile home) with variousintegrated devices. It will be appreciated that devices may also beintegrated into a smart home environment 100 that does not include anentire structure 150, such as an apartment, condominium, or officespace. Further, the smart home environment 100 may control and/or becoupled to devices outside of the actual structure 150. Indeed, severaldevices in the smart home environment 100 need not be physically withinthe structure 150. For example, a device controlling a pool heater 114or irrigation system 116 may be located outside of the structure 150.

The depicted structure 150 includes a plurality of rooms 152, separatedat least partly from each other via walls 154. The walls 154 may includeinterior walls or exterior walls. Each room may further include a floor156 and a ceiling 158. Devices may be mounted on, integrated with and/orsupported by a wall 154, floor 156 or ceiling 158.

In some implementations, the integrated devices of the smart homeenvironment 100 include intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connecteddevices that integrate seamlessly with each other in a smart homenetwork (e.g., 202 FIG. 2) and/or with a central server or acloud-computing system to provide a variety of useful smart homefunctions. The smart home environment 100 may include one or moreintelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected thermostats 102(hereinafter referred to as “smart thermostats 102”), one or moreintelligent, network-connected, multi-sensing hazard detection units 104(hereinafter referred to as “smart hazard detectors 104”), one or moreintelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected entryway interface devices106 and 120 (hereinafter referred to as “smart doorbells 106” and “smartdoor locks 120”), and one or more intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected alarm systems 122 (hereinafter referred to as “smartalarm systems 122”).

In some implementations, the one or more smart thermostats 102 detectambient climate characteristics (e.g., temperature and/or humidity) andcontrol a HVAC system 103 accordingly. For example, a respective smartthermostat 102 includes an ambient temperature sensor.

The one or more smart hazard detectors 104 may include thermal radiationsensors directed at respective heat sources (e.g., a stove, oven, otherappliances, a fireplace, etc.). For example, a smart hazard detector 104in a kitchen 153 includes a thermal radiation sensor directed at astove/oven 112. A thermal radiation sensor may determine the temperatureof the respective heat source (or a portion thereof) at which it isdirected and may provide corresponding blackbody radiation data asoutput. In some implementations, smart hazard detectors 104 areconfigured to not only detect the presence of smoke, but also determinean amount of detected smoke (e.g., in parts per million). Furthermore,based on a determined amount of detected smoke, smart hazard detectors104 may be further configured to determine whether one or morepredefined smoke thresholds (corresponding to varying alert levels) aresatisfied. In some implementations, smart hazard detectors 104 areconfigured to receive commands from other electronic devices (e.g., aclient device 504), where the commands are executable by the smarthazard detectors 104 and cause the smart hazard detectors 104 to performvarious device functions (e.g., silencing an audible alarm sounding inresponse to a hazard detection).

The smart doorbell 106 and/or the smart door lock 120 may detect aperson's approach to or departure from a location (e.g., an outer door),control doorbell/door locking functionality (e.g., receive user inputsfrom a portable electronic device 166-1 to actuate bolt of the smartdoor lock 120), announce a person's approach or departure via audio orvisual means, and/or control settings on a security system (e.g., toactivate or deactivate the security system when occupants go and come).

The smart alarm system 122 may detect the presence of an individualwithin close proximity (e.g., using built-in IR sensors), sound an alarm(e.g., through a built-in speaker, or by sending commands to one or moreexternal speakers), and send notifications to entities or userswithin/outside of the smart home network 100. In some implementations,the smart alarm system 122 also includes one or more input devices orsensors (e.g., keypad, biometric scanner, NFC transceiver, microphone)for verifying the identity of a user, and one or more output devices(e.g., display, speaker). In some implementations, the smart alarmsystem 122 may also be set to an “armed” mode, such that detection of atrigger condition or event causes the alarm to be sounded unless adisarming action is performed.

In some implementations, the smart home environment 100 includes one ormore intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected wall switches 108(hereinafter referred to as “smart wall switches 108”), along with oneor more intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected wall pluginterfaces 110 (hereinafter referred to as “smart wall plugs 110”). Thesmart wall switches 108 may detect ambient lighting conditions, detectroom-occupancy states, and control a power and/or dim state of one ormore lights. In some instances, smart wall switches 108 may also controla power state or speed of a fan, such as a ceiling fan. The smart wallplugs 110 may detect occupancy of a room or enclosure and control supplyof power to one or more wall plugs (e.g., such that power is notsupplied to the plug if nobody is at home).

In some implementations, the smart home environment 100 of FIG. 1includes a plurality of intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connectedappliances 112 (hereinafter referred to as “smart appliances 112”), suchas refrigerators, stoves, ovens, televisions, washers, dryers, lights,stereos, intercom systems, garage-door openers, floor fans, ceilingfans, wall air conditioners, pool heaters, irrigation systems, securitysystems, space heaters, window AC units, motorized duct vents, and soforth. In some implementations, when plugged in, an appliance mayannounce itself to the smart home network, such as by indicating whattype of appliance it is, and it may automatically integrate with thecontrols of the smart home. Such communication by the appliance to thesmart home may be facilitated by either a wired or wirelesscommunication protocol. The smart home may also include a variety ofnon-communicating legacy appliances 140, such as old conventionalwasher/dryers, refrigerators, and the like, which may be controlled bysmart wall plugs 110. The smart home environment 100 may further includea variety of partially communicating legacy appliances 142, such asinfrared (“IR”) controlled wall air conditioners or other IR-controlleddevices, which may be controlled by IR signals provided by the smarthazard detectors 104 or the smart wall switches 108.

In some implementations, the smart home environment 100 includes one ormore network-connected cameras 118 that are configured to provide videomonitoring and security in the smart home environment 100. The cameras118 may be used to determine occupancy of the structure 150 and/orparticular rooms 152 in the structure 150, and thus may act as occupancysensors. For example, video captured by the cameras 118 may be processedto identify the presence of an occupant in the structure 150 (e.g., in aparticular room 152). Specific individuals may be identified based, forexample, on their appearance (e.g., height, face) and/or movement (e.g.,their walk/gait). Cameras 118 may additionally include one or moresensors (e.g., IR sensors, motion detectors), input devices (e.g.,microphone for capturing audio), and output devices (e.g., speaker foroutputting audio).

The smart home environment 100 may additionally or alternatively includeone or more other occupancy sensors (e.g., the smart doorbell 106, smartdoor locks 120, touch screens, IR sensors, microphones, ambient lightsensors, motion detectors, smart nightlights 170, etc.). In someimplementations, the smart home environment 100 includes radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) readers (e.g., in each room 152 or a portionthereof) that determine occupancy based on RFID tags located on orembedded in occupants. For example, RFID readers may be integrated intothe smart hazard detectors 104.

The smart home environment 100 may also include communication withdevices outside of the physical home but within a proximate geographicalrange of the home. For example, the smart home environment 100 mayinclude a pool heater monitor 114 that communicates a current pooltemperature to other devices within the smart home environment 100and/or receives commands for controlling the pool temperature.Similarly, the smart home environment 100 may include an irrigationmonitor 116 that communicates information regarding irrigation systemswithin the smart home environment 100 and/or receives controlinformation for controlling such irrigation systems.

By virtue of network connectivity, one or more of the smart home devicesof FIG. 1 may further allow a user to interact with the device even ifthe user is not proximate to the device. For example, a user maycommunicate with a device using a computer (e.g., a desktop computer,laptop computer, or tablet) or other portable electronic device 166(e.g., a mobile phone, such as a smart phone). A webpage or applicationmay be configured to receive communications from the user and controlthe device based on the communications and/or to present informationabout the device's operation to the user. For example, the user may viewa current set point temperature for a device (e.g., a stove) and adjustit using a computer. The user may be in the structure during this remotecommunication or outside the structure.

As discussed above, users may control smart devices in the smart homeenvironment 100 using a network-connected computer or portableelectronic device 166. In some examples, some or all of the occupants(e.g., individuals who live in the home) may register their device 166with the smart home environment 100. Such registration may be made at acentral server to authenticate the occupant and/or the device as beingassociated with the home and to give permission to the occupant to usethe device to control the smart devices in the home. An occupant may usetheir registered device 166 to remotely control the smart devices of thehome, such as when the occupant is at work or on vacation. The occupantmay also use their registered device to control the smart devices whenthe occupant is actually located inside the home, such as when theoccupant is sitting on a couch inside the home. It should be appreciatedthat instead of or in addition to registering devices 166, the smarthome environment 100 may make inferences about which individuals live inthe home and are therefore occupants and which devices 166 areassociated with those individuals. As such, the smart home environmentmay “learn” who is an occupant and permit the devices 166 associatedwith those individuals to control the smart devices of the home.

In some implementations, in addition to containing processing andsensing capabilities, devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116,118, 120, and/or 122 (collectively referred to as “the smart devices”)are capable of data communications and information sharing with othersmart devices, a central server or cloud-computing system, and/or otherdevices that are network-connected. Data communications may be carriedout using any of a variety of custom or standard wireless protocols(e.g., IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Z-Wave, BluetoothSmart, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc.) and/or any of a variety ofcustom or standard wired protocols (e.g., Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.), orany other suitable communication protocol, including communicationprotocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document.

In some implementations, the smart devices serve as wireless or wiredrepeaters. In some implementations, a first one of the smart devicescommunicates with a second one of the smart devices via a wirelessrouter. The smart devices may further communicate with each other via aconnection (e.g., network interface 160) to a network, such as theInternet 162. Through the Internet 162, the smart devices maycommunicate with a smart home provider server system 164 (also called acentral server system and/or a cloud-computing system herein). The smarthome provider server system 164 may be associated with a manufacturer,support entity, or service provider associated with the smart device(s).In some implementations, a user is able to contact customer supportusing a smart device itself rather than needing to use othercommunication means, such as a telephone or Internet-connected computer.In some implementations, software updates are automatically sent fromthe smart home provider server system 164 to smart devices (e.g., whenavailable, when purchased, or at routine intervals).

In some implementations, the network interface 160 includes aconventional network device (e.g., a router), and the smart homeenvironment 100 of FIG. 1 includes a hub device 180 that iscommunicatively coupled to the network(s) 162 directly or via thenetwork interface 160. The hub device 180 is further communicativelycoupled to one or more of the above intelligent, multi-sensing,network-connected devices (e.g., smart devices of the smart homeenvironment 100). Each of these smart devices optionally communicateswith the hub device 180 using one or more radio communication networksavailable at least in the smart home environment 100 (e.g., ZigBee,Z-Wave, Insteon, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other radio communicationnetworks). In some implementations, the hub device 180 and devicescoupled with/to the hub device can be controlled and/or interacted withvia an application running on a smart phone, household controller,laptop, tablet computer, game console or similar electronic device. Insome implementations, a user of such controller application can viewstatus of the hub device or coupled smart devices, configure the hubdevice to interoperate with smart devices newly introduced to the homenetwork, commission new smart devices, and adjust or view settings ofconnected smart devices, etc. In some implementations the hub deviceextends capabilities of low capability smart device to matchcapabilities of the highly capable smart devices of the same type,integrates functionality of multiple different device types—even acrossdifferent communication protocols, and is configured to streamlineadding of new devices and commissioning of the hub device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example network architecture200 that includes a smart home network 202 in accordance with someimplementations. In some implementations, the smart devices 204 in thesmart home environment 100 (e.g., devices 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112,114, 116, 118, 120, and/or 122) combine with the hub device 180 tocreate a mesh network in smart home network 202. In someimplementations, one or more smart devices 204 in the smart home network202 operate as a smart home controller. Additionally and/oralternatively, hub device 180 operates as the smart home controller. Insome implementations, a smart home controller has more computing powerthan other smart devices. In some implementations, a smart homecontroller processes inputs (e.g., from smart devices 204, electronicdevice 166, and/or smart home provider server system 164) and sendscommands (e.g., to smart devices 204 in the smart home network 202) tocontrol operation of the smart home environment 100. In someimplementations, some of the smart devices 204 in the smart home network202 (e.g., in the mesh network) are “spokesman” nodes (e.g., 204-1) andothers are “low-powered” nodes (e.g., 204-9). Some of the smart devicesin the smart home environment 100 are battery powered, while others havea regular and reliable power source, such as by connecting to wiring(e.g., to 120V line voltage wires) behind the walls 154 of the smarthome environment. The smart devices that have a regular and reliablepower source are referred to as “spokesman” nodes. These nodes aretypically equipped with the capability of using a wireless protocol tofacilitate bidirectional communication with a variety of other devicesin the smart home environment 100, as well as with the smart homeprovider server system 164. In some implementations, one or more“spokesman” nodes operate as a smart home controller. On the other hand,the devices that are battery powered are the “low-power” nodes. Thesenodes tend to be smaller than spokesman nodes and typically onlycommunicate using wireless protocols that require very little power,such as Zigbee, 6LoWPAN, etc.

In some implementations, some low-power nodes are incapable ofbidirectional communication. These low-power nodes send messages, butthey are unable to “listen”. Thus, other devices in the smart homeenvironment 100, such as the spokesman nodes, cannot send information tothese low-power nodes.

In some implementations, some low-power nodes are capable of only alimited bidirectional communication. For example, other devices are ableto communicate with the low-power nodes only during a certain timeperiod.

As described, in some implementations, the smart devices serve aslow-power and spokesman nodes to create a mesh network in the smart homeenvironment 100. In some implementations, individual low-power nodes inthe smart home environment regularly send out messages regarding whatthey are sensing, and the other low-powered nodes in the smart homeenvironment—in addition to sending out their own messages—forward themessages, thereby causing the messages to travel from node to node(i.e., device to device) throughout the smart home network 202. In someimplementations, the spokesman nodes in the smart home network 202,which are able to communicate using a relatively high-powercommunication protocol, such as IEEE 802.11, are able to switch to arelatively low-power communication protocol, such as IEEE 802.15.4, toreceive these messages, translate the messages to other communicationprotocols, and send the translated messages to other spokesman nodesand/or the smart home provider server system 164 (using, e.g., therelatively high-power communication protocol). Thus, the low-powerednodes using low-power communication protocols are able to send and/orreceive messages across the entire smart home network 202, as well asover the Internet 162 to the smart home provider server system 164. Insome implementations, the mesh network enables the smart home providerserver system 164 to regularly receive data from most or all of thesmart devices in the home, make inferences based on the data, facilitatestate synchronization across devices within and outside of the smarthome network 202, and send commands to one or more of the smart devicesto perform tasks in the smart home environment.

As described, the spokesman nodes and some of the low-powered nodes arecapable of “listening.” Accordingly, users, other devices, and/or thesmart home provider server system 164 may communicate control commandsto the low-powered nodes. For example, a user may use the electronicdevice 166 (e.g., a smart phone) to send commands over the Internet tothe smart home provider server system 164, which then relays thecommands to one or more spokesman nodes in the smart home network 202.The spokesman nodes may use a low-power protocol to communicate thecommands to the low-power nodes throughout the smart home network 202,as well as to other spokesman nodes that did not receive the commandsdirectly from the smart home provider server system 164.

In some implementations, a smart nightlight 170 (FIG. 1), which is anexample of a smart device 204, is a low-power node. In addition tohousing a light source, the smart nightlight 170 houses an occupancysensor, such as an ultrasonic or passive IR sensor, and an ambient lightsensor, such as a photo resistor or a single-pixel sensor that measureslight in the room. In some implementations, the smart nightlight 170 isconfigured to activate the light source when its ambient light sensordetects that the room is dark and when its occupancy sensor detects thatsomeone is in the room. In other implementations, the smart nightlight170 is simply configured to activate the light source when its ambientlight sensor detects that the room is dark. Further, in someimplementations, the smart nightlight 170 includes a low-power wirelesscommunication chip (e.g., a ZigBee chip) that regularly sends outmessages regarding the occupancy of the room and the amount of light inthe room, including instantaneous messages coincident with the occupancysensor detecting the presence of a person in the room. As mentionedabove, these messages may be sent wirelessly (e.g., using the meshnetwork) from node to node (i.e., smart device to smart device) withinthe smart home network 202 as well as over the Internet 162 to the smarthome provider server system 164.

Other examples of low-power nodes include battery-operated versions ofthe smart hazard detectors 104. These smart hazard detectors 104 areoften located in an area without access to constant and reliable powerand may include any number and type of sensors, such as smoke/fire/heatsensors (e.g., thermal radiation sensors), carbon monoxide/dioxidesensors, occupancy/motion sensors, ambient light sensors, ambienttemperature sensors, humidity sensors, and the like. Furthermore, smarthazard detectors 104 may send messages that correspond to each of therespective sensors to the other devices and/or the smart home providerserver system 164, such as by using the mesh network as described above.

Examples of spokesman nodes include smart doorbells 106, smartthermostats 102, smart wall switches 108, and smart wall plugs 110.These devices are often located near and connected to a reliable powersource, and therefore may include more power-consuming components, suchas one or more communication chips capable of bidirectionalcommunication in a variety of protocols.

In some implementations, the smart home environment 100 includes servicerobots 168 (FIG. 1) that are configured to carry out, in an autonomousmanner, any of a variety of household tasks.

As explained above with reference to FIG. 1, in some implementations,the smart home environment 100 of FIG. 1 includes a hub device 180 thatis communicatively coupled to the network(s) 162 directly or via thenetwork interface 160. The hub device 180 is further communicativelycoupled to one or more of the smart devices using a radio communicationnetwork that is available at least in the smart home environment 100.Communication protocols used by the radio communication network include,but are not limited to, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Insteon, EuOcean, Thread, OSIAN,Bluetooth Low Energy and the like. In some implementations, the hubdevice 180 not only converts the data received from each smart device tomeet the data format requirements of the network interface 160 or thenetwork(s) 162, but also converts information received from the networkinterface 160 or the network(s) 162 to meet the data format requirementsof the respective communication protocol associated with a targetedsmart device. In some implementations, in addition to data formatconversion, the hub device 180 further processes the data received fromthe smart devices or information received from the network interface 160or the network(s) 162 preliminary. For example, the hub device 180 canintegrate inputs from multiple sensors/connected devices (includingsensors/devices of the same and/or different types), perform higherlevel processing on those inputs—e.g., to assess the overall environmentand coordinate operation among the different sensors/devices—and/orprovide instructions to the different devices based on the collection ofinputs and programmed processing. It is also noted that in someimplementations, the network interface 160 and the hub device 180 areintegrated to one network device. Functionality described herein isrepresentative of particular implementations of smart devices, controlapplication(s) running on representative electronic device(s) (such as asmart phone), hub device(s) 180, and server(s) coupled to hub device(s)via the Internet or other Wide Area Network. All or a portion of thisfunctionality and associated operations can be performed by any elementsof the described system—for example, all or a portion of thefunctionality described herein as being performed by an implementationof the hub device can be performed, in different system implementations,in whole or in part on the server, one or more connected smart devicesand/or the control application, or different combinations thereof.

FIG. 3 illustrates a network-level view of an extensible devices andservices platform with which the smart home environment of FIG. 1 isintegrated, in accordance with some implementations. The extensibledevices and services platform 300 includes smart home provider serversystem 164. Each of the intelligent, network-connected devices describedwith reference to FIG. 1 (e.g., 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116and 118, identified simply as “devices” in FIGS. 2-4) may communicatewith the smart home provider server system 164. For example, aconnection to the Internet 162 may be established either directly (forexample, using 3G/4G connectivity to a wireless carrier), or through anetwork interface 160 (e.g., a router, switch, gateway, hub device, oran intelligent, dedicated whole-home controller node), or through anycombination thereof.

In some implementations, the devices and services platform 300communicates with and collects data from the smart devices of the smarthome environment 100. In addition, in some implementations, the devicesand services platform 300 communicates with and collects data from aplurality of smart home environments across the world. For example, thesmart home provider server system 164 collects home data 302 from thedevices of one or more smart home environments 100, where the devicesmay routinely transmit home data or may transmit home data in specificinstances (e.g., when a device queries the home data 302). Examplecollected home data 302 includes, without limitation, power consumptiondata, blackbody radiation data, occupancy data, HVAC settings and usagedata, carbon monoxide levels data, carbon dioxide levels data, volatileorganic compounds levels data, sleeping schedule data, cooking scheduledata, inside and outside temperature humidity data, televisionviewership data, inside and outside noise level data, pressure data,video data, etc.

In some implementations, the smart home provider server system 164provides one or more services 304 to smart homes and/or third parties.Example services 304 include, without limitation, software updates,customer support, sensor data collection/logging, remote access, remoteor distributed control, and/or use suggestions (e.g., based on collectedhome data 302) to improve performance, reduce utility cost, increasesafety, etc. In some implementations, data associated with the services304 is stored at the smart home provider server system 164, and thesmart home provider server system 164 retrieves and transmits the dataat appropriate times (e.g., at regular intervals, upon receiving arequest from a user, etc.).

In some implementations, the extensible devices and services platform300 includes a processing engine 306, which may be concentrated at asingle server or distributed among several different computing entitieswithout limitation. In some implementations, the processing engine 306includes engines configured to receive data from the devices of smarthome environments 100 (e.g., via the Internet 162 and/or a networkinterface 160), to index the data, to analyze the data and/or togenerate statistics based on the analysis or as part of the analysis. Insome implementations, the analyzed data is stored as derived home data308.

Results of the analysis or statistics may thereafter be transmitted backto the device that provided home data used to derive the results, toother devices, to a server providing a webpage to a user of the device,or to other non-smart device entities. In some implementations, usagestatistics, usage statistics relative to use of other devices, usagepatterns, and/or statistics summarizing sensor readings are generated bythe processing engine 306 and transmitted. The results or statistics maybe provided via the Internet 162. In this manner, the processing engine306 may be configured and programmed to derive a variety of usefulinformation from the home data 302. A single server may include one ormore processing engines.

The derived home data 308 may be used at different granularities for avariety of useful purposes, ranging from explicit programmed control ofthe devices on a per-home, per-neighborhood, or per-region basis (forexample, demand-response programs for electrical utilities), to thegeneration of inferential abstractions that may assist on a per-homebasis (for example, an inference may be drawn that the homeowner hasleft for vacation and so security detection equipment may be put onheightened sensitivity), to the generation of statistics and associatedinferential abstractions that may be used for government or charitablepurposes. For example, processing engine 306 may generate statisticsabout device usage across a population of devices and send thestatistics to device users, service providers or other entities (e.g.,entities that have requested the statistics and/or entities that haveprovided monetary compensation for the statistics).

In some implementations, to encourage innovation and research and toincrease products and services available to users, the devices andservices platform 300 exposes a range of application programminginterfaces (APIs) 310 to third parties, such as charities 314,governmental entities 316 (e.g., the Food and Drug Administration or theEnvironmental Protection Agency), academic institutions 318 (e.g.,university researchers), businesses 320 (e.g., providing devicewarranties or service to related equipment, targeting advertisementsbased on home data), utility companies 324, and other third parties. TheAPIs 310 are coupled to and permit third-party systems to communicatewith the smart home provider server system 164, including the services304, the processing engine 306, the home data 302, and the derived homedata 308. In some implementations, the APIs 310 allow applicationsexecuted by the third parties to initiate specific data processing tasksthat are executed by the smart home provider server system 164, as wellas to receive dynamic updates to the home data 302 and the derived homedata 308.

For example, third parties may develop programs and/or applications(e.g., web applications or mobile applications) that integrate with thesmart home provider server system 164 to provide services andinformation to users. Such programs and applications may be, forexample, designed to help users reduce energy consumption, topreemptively service faulty equipment, to prepare for high servicedemands, to track past service performance, etc., and/or to performother beneficial functions or tasks.

FIG. 4 illustrates an abstracted functional view 400 of the extensibledevices and services platform 300 of FIG. 3, with reference to aprocessing engine 306 as well as devices of the smart home environment,in accordance with some implementations. Even though devices situated insmart home environments will have a wide variety of different individualcapabilities and limitations, the devices may be thought of as sharingcommon characteristics in that each device is a data consumer 402 (DC),a data source 404 (DS), a services consumer 406 (SC), and a servicessource 408 (SS). Advantageously, in addition to providing controlinformation used by the devices to achieve their local and immediateobjectives, the extensible devices and services platform 300 may also beconfigured to use the large amount of data that is generated by thesedevices. In addition to enhancing or optimizing the actual operation ofthe devices themselves with respect to their immediate functions, theextensible devices and services platform 300 may be directed to“repurpose” that data in a variety of automated, extensible, flexible,and/or scalable ways to achieve a variety of useful objectives. Theseobjectives may be predefined or adaptively identified based on, e.g.,usage patterns, device efficiency, and/or user input (e.g., requestingspecific functionality).

FIG. 4 shows processing engine 306 as including a number of processingparadigms 410. In some implementations, processing engine 306 includes amanaged services paradigm 410 a that monitors and manages primary orsecondary device functions. The device functions may include ensuringproper operation of a device given user inputs, estimating that (e.g.,and responding to an instance in which) an intruder is or is attemptingto be in a dwelling, detecting a failure of equipment coupled to thedevice (e.g., a light bulb having burned out), implementing or otherwiseresponding to energy demand response events, providing a heat-sourcealert, and/or alerting a user of a current or predicted future event orcharacteristic. In some implementations, processing engine 306 includesan advertising/communication paradigm 410 b that estimatescharacteristics (e.g., demographic information), desires and/or productsof interest of a user based on device usage. Services, promotions,products or upgrades may then be offered or automatically provided tothe user. In some implementations, processing engine 306 includes asocial paradigm 410 c that uses information from a social network,provides information to a social network (for example, based on deviceusage), and/or processes data associated with user and/or deviceinteractions with the social network platform. For example, a user'sstatus as reported to their trusted contacts on the social network maybe updated to indicate when the user is home based on light detection,security system inactivation or device usage detectors. As anotherexample, a user may be able to share device-usage statistics with otherusers. In yet another example, a user may share HVAC settings thatresult in low power bills and other users may download the HVAC settingsto their smart thermostat 102 to reduce their power bills.

In some implementations, processing engine 306 includes achallenges/rules/compliance/rewards paradigm 410 d that informs a userof challenges, competitions, rules, compliance regulations and/orrewards and/or that uses operation data to determine whether a challengehas been met, a rule or regulation has been complied with and/or areward has been earned. The challenges, rules, and/or regulations mayrelate to efforts to conserve energy, to live safely (e.g., reducing theoccurrence of heat-source alerts) (e.g., reducing exposure to toxins orcarcinogens), to conserve money and/or equipment life, to improvehealth, etc. For example, one challenge may involve participants turningdown their thermostat by one degree for one week. Those participantsthat successfully complete the challenge are rewarded, such as withcoupons, virtual currency, status, etc. Regarding compliance, an exampleinvolves a rental-property owner making a rule that no renters arepermitted to access certain owner's rooms. The devices in the roomhaving occupancy sensors may send updates to the owner when the room isaccessed.

In some implementations, processing engine 306 integrates or otherwiseuses extrinsic information 412 from extrinsic sources to improve thefunctioning of one or more processing paradigms. Extrinsic information412 may be used to interpret data received from a device, to determine acharacteristic of the environment near the device (e.g., outside astructure that the device is enclosed in), to determine services orproducts available to the user, to identify a social network orsocial-network information, to determine contact information of entities(e.g., public-service entities such as an emergency-response team, thepolice or a hospital) near the device, to identify statistical orenvironmental conditions, trends or other information associated with ahome or neighborhood, and so forth.

FIG. 5 illustrates a representative operating environment 500 in which ahub device server system 508 provides data processing for monitoring andfacilitating review of motion events in video streams captured by videocameras 118. As shown in FIG. 5, the hub device server system 508receives video data from video sources 522 (including cameras 118)located at various physical locations (e.g., inside homes, restaurants,stores, streets, parking lots, and/or the smart home environments 100 ofFIG. 1). Each video source 522 may be bound to one or more revieweraccounts, and the hub device server system 508 provides video monitoringdata for the video source 522 to client devices 504 associated with thereviewer accounts. For example, the portable electronic device 166 is anexample of the client device 504.

In some implementations, the smart home provider server system 164 or acomponent thereof serves as the hub device server system 508. In someimplementations, the hub device server system 508 is a dedicated videoprocessing server that provides video processing services to videosources and client devices 504 independent of other services provided bythe hub device server system 508.

In some implementations, each of the video sources 522 includes one ormore video cameras 118 that capture video and send the captured video tothe hub device server system 508 substantially in real-time. In someimplementations, each of the video sources 522 optionally includes acontroller device (not shown) that serves as an intermediary between theone or more cameras 118 and the hub device server system 508. Thecontroller device receives the video data from the one or more cameras118, optionally, performs some preliminary processing on the video data,and sends the video data to the hub device server system 508 on behalfof the one or more cameras 118 substantially in real-time. In someimplementations, each camera has its own on-board processingcapabilities to perform some preliminary processing on the capturedvideo data before sending the processed video data (along with metadataobtained through the preliminary processing) to the controller deviceand/or the hub device server system 508.

As shown in FIG. 5, in accordance with some implementations, each of theclient devices 504 includes a client-side module 502. The client-sidemodule 502 communicates with a server-side module 506 executed on thehub device server system 508 through the one or more networks 162. Theclient-side module 502 provides client-side functionalities for theevent monitoring and review processing and communications with theserver-side module 506. The server-side module 506 provides server-sidefunctionalities for event monitoring and review processing for anynumber of client-side modules 502 each residing on a respective clientdevice 504. The server-side module 506 also provides server-sidefunctionalities for video processing and camera control for any numberof the video sources 522, including any number of control devices andthe cameras 118.

In some implementations, the server-side module 506 includes one or moreprocessors 512, a video storage database 514, device and accountdatabases 516, an I/O interface to one or more client devices 518, andan I/O interface to one or more video sources 520. The I/O interface toone or more clients 518 facilitates the client-facing input and outputprocessing for the server-side module 506. The databases 516 store aplurality of profiles for reviewer accounts registered with the videoprocessing server, where a respective user profile includes accountcredentials for a respective reviewer account, and one or more videosources linked to the respective reviewer account. The I/O interface toone or more video sources 520 facilitates communications with one ormore video sources 522 (e.g., groups of one or more cameras 118 andassociated controller devices). The video storage database 514 storesraw video data received from the video sources 522, as well as varioustypes of metadata, such as motion events, event categories, eventcategory models, event filters, and event masks, for use in dataprocessing for event monitoring and review for each reviewer account.

Examples of a representative client device 504 include, but are notlimited to, a handheld computer, a wearable computing device, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, an enhanced generalpacket radio service (EGPRS) mobile phone, a media player, a navigationdevice, a game console, a television, a remote control, a point-of-sale(POS) terminal, vehicle-mounted computer, an ebook reader, or acombination of any two or more of these data processing devices or otherdata processing devices.

Examples of the one or more networks 162 include local area networks(LAN) and wide area networks (WAN) such as the Internet. The one or morenetworks 162 are, optionally, implemented using any known networkprotocol, including various wired or wireless protocols, such asEthernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, Long Term Evolution(LTE), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP), Wi-MAX, or any other suitable communication protocol.

In some implementations, the hub device server system 508 is implementedon one or more standalone data processing apparatuses or a distributednetwork of computers. In some implementations, the hub device serversystem 508 also employs various virtual devices and/or services of thirdparty service providers (e.g., third-party cloud service providers) toprovide the underlying computing resources and/or infrastructureresources of the hub device server system 508. In some implementations,the hub device server system 508 includes, but is not limited to, ahandheld computer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, or a combination of any two or more of these data processingdevices or other data processing devices.

The server-client environment 500 shown in FIG. 1 includes both aclient-side portion (e.g., the client-side module 502) and a server-sideportion (e.g., the server-side module 506). The division offunctionalities between the client and server portions of operatingenvironment 500 can vary in different implementations. Similarly, thedivision of functionalities between the video source 522 and the hubdevice server system 508 can vary in different implementations. Forexample, in some implementations, client-side module 502 is athin-client that provides only user-facing input and output processingfunctions, and delegates all other data processing functionalities to abackend server (e.g., the hub device server system 508). Similarly, insome implementations, a respective one of the video sources 522 is asimple video capturing device that continuously captures and streamsvideo data to the hub device server system 508 without no or limitedlocal preliminary processing on the video data. Although many aspects ofthe present technology are described from the perspective of the hubdevice server system 508, the corresponding actions performed by theclient device 504 and/or the video sources 522 would be apparent to onesskilled in the art without any creative efforts. Similarly, some aspectsof the present technology may be described from the perspective of theclient device or the video source, and the corresponding actionsperformed by the video server would be apparent to ones skilled in theart without any creative efforts. Furthermore, some aspects of thepresent technology may be performed by the hub device server system 508,the client device 504, and the video sources 522 cooperatively.

It should be understood that operating environment 500 that involves thehub device server system 508, the video sources 522 and the videocameras 118 is merely an example. Many aspects of operating environment500 are generally applicable in other operating environments in which aserver system provides data processing for monitoring and facilitatingreview of data captured by other types of electronic devices (e.g.,smart thermostats 102, smart hazard detectors 104, smart doorbells 106,smart wall plugs 110, appliances 112 and the like).

The electronic devices, the client devices or the server systemcommunicate with each other using the one or more communication networks162. In an example smart home environment, two or more devices (e.g.,the network interface device 160, the hub device 180, and the clientdevices 504-m) are located in close proximity to each other, such thatthey could be communicatively coupled in the same sub-network 162A viawired connections, a WLAN or a Bluetooth Personal Area Network (PAN).The Bluetooth PAN is optionally established based on classical Bluetoothtechnology or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. This smart homeenvironment further includes one or more other radio communicationnetworks 162B through which at least some of the electronic devices ofthe video sources 522-n exchange data with the hub device 180.Alternatively, in some situations, some of the electronic devices of thevideo sources 522-n communicate with the network interface device 160directly via the same sub-network 162A that couples devices 160, 180 and504-m. In some implementations (e.g., in the network 162C), both theclient device 504-m and the electronic devices of the video sources522-n communicate directly via the network(s) 162 without passing thenetwork interface device 160 or the hub device 180.

In some implementations, during normal operation, the network interfacedevice 160 and the hub device 180 communicate with each other to form anetwork gateway through which data are exchanged with the electronicdevice of the video sources 522-n. As explained above, the networkinterface device 160 and the hub device 180 optionally communicate witheach other via a sub-network 162A.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a representative hub device 180in accordance with some implementations. In some implementations, thehub device 180 includes one or more processing units (e.g., CPUs, ASICs,FPGAs, microprocessors, and the like) 602, one or more communicationinterfaces 604, memory 606, radios 640, and one or more communicationbuses 608 for interconnecting these components (sometimes called achipset). In some implementations, the hub device 180 includes one ormore input devices 610 such as one or more buttons for receiving input.In some implementations, the hub device 180 includes one or more outputdevices 612 such as one or more indicator lights, a sound card, aspeaker, a small display for displaying textual information and errorcodes, etc. Furthermore, in some implementations, the hub device 180uses a microphone and voice recognition or a camera and gesturerecognition to supplement or replace the keyboard. In someimplementations, the hub device 180 includes a location detection device614, such as a GPS (global positioning satellite) or other geo-locationreceiver, for determining the location of the hub device 180.

The hub device 180 optionally includes one or more built-in sensors (notshown), including, for example, one or more thermal radiation sensors,ambient temperature sensors, humidity sensors, IR sensors, occupancysensors (e.g., using RFID sensors), ambient light sensors, motiondetectors, accelerometers, and/or gyroscopes.

The radios 640 enables one or more radio communication networks in thesmart home environments, and allows a hub device to communicate withsmart devices. In some implementations, the radios 640 are capable ofdata communications using any of a variety of custom or standardwireless protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread,Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc.) custom orstandard wired protocols (e.g., Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.), and/or anyother suitable communication protocol, including communication protocolsnot yet developed as of the filing date of this document.

Communication interfaces 604 include, for example, hardware capable ofdata communications using any of a variety of custom or standardwireless protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread,Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc.) and/orany of a variety of custom or standard wired protocols (e.g., Ethernet,HomePlug, etc.), or any other suitable communication protocol, includingcommunication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of thisdocument.

Memory 606 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM,DDR RAM, or other random access solid state memory devices; and,optionally, includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magneticdisk storage devices, one or more optical disk storage devices, one ormore flash memory devices, or one or more other non-volatile solid statestorage devices. Memory 606, or alternatively the non-volatile memorywithin memory 606, includes a non-transitory computer readable storagemedium. In some implementations, memory 606, or the non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of memory 606, stores the followingprograms, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Operating logic 616 including procedures for handling various        basic system services and for performing hardware dependent        tasks;    -   Hub device communication module 618 for connecting to and        communicating with other network devices (e.g., network        interface 160, such as a router that provides Internet        connectivity, networked storage devices, network routing        devices, server system 508, etc.) connected to one or more        networks 162 via one or more communication interfaces 604 (wired        or wireless);    -   Radio Communication Module 620 for connecting the hub device 180        to other devices (e.g., controller devices, smart devices 204 in        smart home environment 100, client devices 504) via one or more        radio communication devices (e.g., radios 640);    -   User interface module 622 for providing and displaying a user        interface in which settings, captured data, and/or other data        for one or more devices (e.g., smart devices 204 in smart home        environment 100) can be configured and/or viewed; and    -   Hub device database 624, including but not limited to:        -   Sensor information 6240 for storing and managing data            received, detected, and/or transmitted by one or more            sensors of the hub device 180 and/or one or more other            devices (e.g., smart devices 204 in smart home environment            100);        -   Device settings 6242 for storing operational settings for            one or more devices (e.g., coupled smart devices 204 in            smart home environment 100); and        -   Communication protocol information 6244 for storing and            managing protocol information for one or more protocols            (e.g., standard wireless protocols, such as ZigBee, Z-Wave,            etc., and/or custom or standard wired protocols, such as            Ethernet).

Each of the above identified elements (e.g., modules stored in memory206 of hub device 180) may be stored in one or more of the previouslymentioned memory devices (e.g., the memory of any of the smart devicesin smart home environment 100, FIG. 1), and corresponds to a set ofinstructions for performing a function described above. The aboveidentified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various implementations. In some implementations, memory606, optionally, stores a subset of the modules and data structuresidentified above. Furthermore, memory 606, optionally, stores additionalmodules and data structures not described above.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the hub server system 508 inaccordance with some implementations. The hub server system 508,typically, includes one or more processing units (CPUs) 702, one or morenetwork interfaces 704 (e.g., including an I/O interface to one or moreclient devices and an I/O interface to one or more electronic devices),memory 706, and one or more communication buses 708 for interconnectingthese components (sometimes called a chipset). Memory 706 includeshigh-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or otherrandom access solid state memory devices; and, optionally, includesnon-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices,one or more optical disk storage devices, one or more flash memorydevices, or one or more other non-volatile solid state storage devices.Memory 706, optionally, includes one or more storage devices remotelylocated from one or more processing units 702. Memory 706, oralternatively the non-volatile memory within memory 706, includes anon-transitory computer readable storage medium. In someimplementations, memory 706, or the non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of memory 706, stores the following programs, modules,and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Operating system 710 including procedures for handling various        basic system services and for performing hardware dependent        tasks;    -   Network communication module 712 for connecting the hub server        system 508 to other systems and devices (e.g., client devices,        electronic devices, and systems connected to one or more        networks 162, FIGS. 1-5) via one or more network interfaces 704        (wired or wireless);    -   Server-side module 714, which provides server-side        functionalities for device control, data processing and data        review, including but not limited to:        -   Data receiving module 7140 for receiving data from            electronic devices (e.g., video data from a camera 118,            FIG. 1) via the hub device 180, and preparing the received            data for further processing and storage in the data storage            database 7160;        -   Hub and device control module 7142 for generating and            sending server-initiated control commands to modify            operation modes of electronic devices (e.g., devices of a            smart home environment 100), and/or receiving (e.g., from            client devices 504) and forwarding user-initiated control            commands to modify operation modes of the electronic            devices;        -   Data processing module 7144 for processing the data provided            by the electronic devices, and/or preparing and sending            processed data to a device for review (e.g., client devices            504 for review by a user); and    -   Server database 716, including but not limited to:        -   Data storage database 7160 for storing data associated with            each electronic device (e.g., each camera) of each user            account, as well as data processing models, processed data            results, and other relevant metadata (e.g., names of data            results, location of electronic device, creation time,            duration, settings of the electronic device, etc.)            associated with the data, wherein (optionally) all or a            portion of the data and/or processing associated with the            hub device 180 or smart devices are stored securely;        -   Account database 7162 for storing account information for            user accounts, including user account information,            information and settings for linked hub devices and            electronic devices (e.g., hub device identifications), hub            device specific secrets, relevant user and hardware            characteristics (e.g., service tier, device model, storage            capacity, processing capabilities, etc.), user interface            settings, data review preferences, etc., where the            information for associated electronic devices includes, but            is not limited to, one or more device identifiers (e.g., MAC            address and UUID), device specific secrets, and displayed            titles; and        -   Device Information Database 7164 for storing device            information related to one or more hub devices, e.g., device            identifiers and hub device specific secrets, independently            of whether the corresponding hub devices have been            associated with any user account.

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more ofthe previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set ofinstructions for performing a function described above. The aboveidentified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various implementations. In some implementations, memory706, optionally, stores a subset of the modules and data structuresidentified above. Furthermore, memory 706, optionally, stores additionalmodules and data structures not described above.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a representative client device504 associated with a user account in accordance with someimplementations. The client device 504, typically, includes one or moreprocessing units (CPUs) 802, one or more network interfaces 804, memory806, and one or more communication buses 808 for interconnecting thesecomponents (sometimes called a chipset). Optionally, the client devicealso includes a user interface 810 and one or more built-in sensors 890(e.g., accelerometer and gyroscope). User interface 810 includes one ormore output devices 812 that enable presentation of media content,including one or more speakers and/or one or more visual displays. Userinterface 810 also includes one or more input devices 814, includinguser interface components that facilitate user input such as a keyboard,a mouse, a voice-command input unit or microphone, a touch screendisplay, a touch-sensitive input pad, a gesture capturing camera, orother input buttons or controls. Furthermore, some the client devicesuse a microphone and voice recognition or a camera and gesturerecognition to supplement or replace the keyboard. In someimplementations, the client device includes one or more cameras,scanners, or photo sensor units for capturing images (not shown).Optionally, the client device includes a location detection device 816,such as a GPS (global positioning satellite) or other geo-locationreceiver, for determining the location of the client device.

Memory 806 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM,DDR RAM, or other random access solid state memory devices; and,optionally, includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magneticdisk storage devices, one or more optical disk storage devices, one ormore flash memory devices, or one or more other non-volatile solid statestorage devices. Memory 806, optionally, includes one or more storagedevices remotely located from one or more processing units 802. Memory806, or alternatively the non-volatile memory within memory 806,includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In someimplementations, memory 806, or the non-transitory computer readablestorage medium of memory 806, stores the following programs, modules,and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Operating system 818 including procedures for handling various        basic system services and for performing hardware dependent        tasks;    -   Network communication module 820 for connecting the client        device 504 to other systems and devices (e.g., client devices,        electronic devices, and systems connected to one or more        networks 162, FIGS. 1-5) via one or more network interfaces 804        (wired or wireless);    -   Input processing module 822 for detecting one or more user        inputs or interactions from one of the one or more input devices        814 and interpreting the detected input or interaction;    -   One or more applications 824 for execution by the client device        (e.g., games, social network applications, smart home        applications, and/or other web or non-web based applications)        for controlling devices (e.g., sending commands, configuring        settings, etc. to hub devices and/or other client or electronic        devices within one or more environments) and for reviewing data        captured by the devices (e.g., device status and settings,        captured data, or other information regarding the hub device or        other connected devices), including but not limited to:        -   Environment status module 8240 for identifying a current            environment status of an environment (e.g., a smart home            environment 100, FIG. 1); and        -   Feature set module 8242 for determining a corresponding            feature set based on a current environment status (e.g., set            of selectable commands for performing device functions            associated with the current environment status);    -   User interface module 622 for providing and displaying a user        interface in which settings, captured data, and/or other data        for one or more devices (e.g., smart devices 204 in smart home        environment 100, including cameras, thermostats and/or hazard        detectors) can be configured and/or viewed;    -   Client-side module 828, which provides client-side        functionalities for device control, data processing and data        review, including but not limited to:        -   Hub device and device control module 8280 for generating            control commands for modifying an operating mode of the hub            device or other electronic devices (e.g., of a smart home            environment 100) in accordance with user inputs (e.g.,            detecting user inputs indicating selection of one or more            commands for performing device functions of devices in a            smart home environment 100, such as commands for silencing            an alarm of a hazard detector 104, accessing a live video            feed of a camera 118, etc.); and        -   Data review module 8282 for providing user interfaces for            reviewing data processed by the hub server system 508; and    -   Client data 830 storing data associated with the user account        and electronic devices, including, but is not limited to:        -   Account data 8300 storing information related to both user            accounts loaded on the client device and electronic devices            (e.g., of the video sources 522) associated with the user            accounts, wherein such information includes cached login            credentials, hub device identifiers (e.g., MAC addresses and            UUIDs), electronic device identifiers (e.g., MAC addresses            and UUIDs), user interface settings, display preferences,            authentication tokens and tags, password keys, etc.; and        -   Local data storage database 8302 for selectively storing raw            or processed data associated with electronic devices (e.g.,            of the video sources 522, such as a camera 118).

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more ofthe previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set ofinstructions for performing a function described above. The aboveidentified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures, modules or datastructures, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined orotherwise re-arranged in various implementations. In someimplementations, memory 806, optionally, stores a subset of the modulesand data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 806,optionally, stores additional modules and data structures not describedabove.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a representative smart device 204in accordance with some implementations. In some implementations, thesmart device 204 (e.g., any devices of a smart home environment 100,FIGS. 1 and 2) includes one or more processing units (e.g., CPUs, ASICs,FPGAs, microprocessors, and the like) 902, one or more communicationinterfaces 904, memory 906, radios 940, and one or more communicationbuses 908 for interconnecting these components (sometimes called achipset). In some implementations, user interface 910 includes one ormore output devices 912 that enable presentation of media content,including one or more speakers and/or one or more visual displays. Insome implementations, user interface 910 also includes one or more inputdevices 914, including user interface components that facilitate userinput such as a keyboard, a mouse, a voice-command input unit ormicrophone, a touch screen display, a touch-sensitive input pad, agesture capturing camera, or other input buttons or controls.Furthermore, some smart devices 204 use a microphone and voicerecognition or a camera and gesture recognition to supplement or replacethe keyboard. In some implementations, the smart device 204 includes oneor more image/video capture devices 918 (e.g., cameras, video cameras,scanners, photo sensor units). Optionally, the client device includes alocation detection device 916, such as a GPS (global positioningsatellite) or other geo-location receiver, for determining the locationof the smart device 204.

The built-in sensors 990 include, for example, one or more thermalradiation sensors, ambient temperature sensors, humidity sensors, IRsensors, occupancy sensors (e.g., using RFID sensors), ambient lightsensors, motion detectors, accelerometers, and/or gyroscopes.

The radios 940 enable one or more radio communication networks in thesmart home environments, and allow a smart device 204 to communicatewith other devices. In some implementations, the radios 940 are capableof data communications using any of a variety of custom or standardwireless protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread,Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc.) custom orstandard wired protocols (e.g., Ethernet, HomePlug, etc.), and/or anyother suitable communication protocol, including communication protocolsnot yet developed as of the filing date of this document.

Communication interfaces 904 include, for example, hardware capable ofdata communications using any of a variety of custom or standardwireless protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread,Z-Wave, Bluetooth Smart, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, etc.) and/orany of a variety of custom or standard wired protocols (e.g., Ethernet,HomePlug, etc.), or any other suitable communication protocol, includingcommunication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of thisdocument.

Memory 906 includes high-speed random access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM,DDR RAM, or other random access solid state memory devices; and,optionally, includes non-volatile memory, such as one or more magneticdisk storage devices, one or more optical disk storage devices, one ormore flash memory devices, or one or more other non-volatile solid statestorage devices. Memory 906, or alternatively the non-volatile memorywithin memory 906, includes a non-transitory computer readable storagemedium. In some implementations, memory 906, or the non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of memory 906, stores the followingprograms, modules, and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Operating logic 920 including procedures for handling various        basic system services and for performing hardware dependent        tasks;    -   Device communication module 922 for connecting to and        communicating with other network devices (e.g., network        interface 160, such as a router that provides Internet        connectivity, networked storage devices, network routing        devices, server system 508, etc.) connected to one or more        networks 162 via one or more communication interfaces 904 (wired        or wireless);    -   Radio Communication Module 924 for connecting the smart device        204 to other devices (e.g., controller devices, smart devices        204 in smart home environment 100, client devices 504) via one        or more radio communication devices (e.g., radios 940)    -   Input processing module 926 for detecting one or more user        inputs or interactions from the one or more input devices 914        and interpreting the detected inputs or interactions;    -   User interface module 928 for providing and displaying a user        interface in which settings, captured data, and/or other data        for one or more devices (e.g., the smart device 204, and/or        other devices in smart home environment 100) can be configured        and/or viewed;    -   One or more applications 930 for execution by the smart device        930 (e.g., games, social network applications, smart home        applications, and/or other web or non-web based applications)        for controlling devices (e.g., executing commands, sending        commands, and/or configuring settings of the smart device 204        and/or other client/electronic devices), and for reviewing data        captured by devices (e.g., device status and settings, captured        data, or other information regarding the smart device 204 and/or        other client/electronic devices);    -   Device-side module 932, which provides device-side        functionalities for device control, data processing and data        review, including but not limited to:        -   Command receiving module 9320 for receiving, forwarding,            and/or executing instructions and control commands (e.g.,            from a client device 504, from a smart home provider server            system 164, from user inputs detected on the user interface            910, etc.) for operating the smart device 204;        -   Data processing module 9322 for processing data captured or            received by one or more inputs (e.g., input devices 914,            image/video capture devices 918, location detection device            916), sensors (e.g., built-in sensors 990), interfaces            (e.g., communication interfaces 904, radios 940), and/or            other components of the smart device 204, and for preparing            and sending processed data to a device for review (e.g.,            client devices 504 for review by a user); and    -   Device data 934 storing data associated with devices (e.g., the        smart device 204), including, but is not limited to:        -   Account data 9340 storing information related to user            accounts loaded on the smart device 204, wherein such            information includes cached login credentials, smart device            identifiers (e.g., MAC addresses and UUIDs), user interface            settings, display preferences, authentication tokens and            tags, password keys, etc.,        -   Local data storage database 9342 for selectively storing raw            or processed data associated with the smart device 204            (e.g., video surveillance footage captured by a camera 118);            and        -   Device state data 9344 storing previous and/or current            device state information for the smart device 204 (e.g., for            a hazard detector 104, includes detected hazard information,            such as a timestamp, severity of the detected hazard, etc.;            for a camera 118, includes detected motion information, such            as a time, place, and/or type of detected motion).

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more ofthe previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set ofinstructions for performing a function described above. The aboveidentified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various implementations. In some implementations, memory906, optionally, stores a subset of the modules and data structuresidentified above. Furthermore, memory 906, optionally, stores additionalmodules and data structures not described above.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the smart home provider serversystem 164 in accordance with some implementations. The smart homeprovider server system 164, typically, includes one or more processingunits (CPUs) 1002, one or more network interfaces 1004 (e.g., includingan I/O interface to one or more client devices and an I/O interface toone or more electronic devices), memory 1006, and one or morecommunication buses 1008 for interconnecting these components (sometimescalled a chipset). Memory 1006 includes high-speed random access memory,such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random access solid state memorydevices; and, optionally, includes non-volatile memory, such as one ormore magnetic disk storage devices, one or more optical disk storagedevices, one or more flash memory devices, or one or more othernon-volatile solid state storage devices. Memory 1006, optionally,includes one or more storage devices remotely located from one or moreprocessing units 1002. Memory 1006, or alternatively the non-volatilememory within memory 1006, includes a non-transitory computer readablestorage medium. In some implementations, memory 1006, or thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of memory 1006, storesthe following programs, modules, and data structures, or a subset orsuperset thereof:

-   -   Operating system 1010 including procedures for handling various        basic system services and for performing hardware dependent        tasks;    -   Network communication module 1012 for connecting the smart home        provider server system 164 to other systems and devices (e.g.,        client devices, electronic devices, and systems connected to one        or more networks 162, FIGS. 1-5) via one or more network        interfaces 1004 (wired or wireless);    -   Server-side module 1014, which provides server-side        functionalities for device control, data processing and data        review, including but not limited to:        -   Data receiving module 10140 for receiving data from            electronic devices (e.g., video data from a camera 118, FIG.            1), and preparing the received data for further processing            and storage in the data storage database 10160;        -   Device control module 10142 for generating and sending            server-initiated control commands to modify operation modes            of electronic devices (e.g., devices of a smart home            environment 100), and/or receiving (e.g., from client            devices 504) and forwarding user-initiated control commands            to modify operation modes of the electronic devices;        -   Data processing module 10144 for processing the data            provided by the electronic devices, and/or preparing and            sending processed data to a device for review (e.g., client            devices 504 for review by a user);        -   Environment status module 10146 for identifying a current            environment status of an environment (e.g., a smart home            environment 100, FIG. 1), and for providing an identified            current environment status to one or more devices associated            with the respective environment (e.g., transmitting an            identified current environment status to a client device            504);        -   Feature set module 10148 for determining a corresponding            feature set based on a current environment status (e.g., set            of selectable commands for performing device functions            associated with the current environment status), and for            providing the determined feature set to one or more devices            associated with the respective environment (e.g.,            transmitting the determined feature set to a client device            504 for selection by an associated user); and    -   Server database 1016, including but not limited to:        -   Data storage database 10160 for storing data associated with            each electronic device (e.g., each camera) of each user            account, as well as data processing models, processed data            results, and other relevant metadata (e.g., names of data            results, location of electronic device, creation time,            duration, settings of the electronic device, etc.)            associated with the data, wherein (optionally) all or a            portion of the data and/or processing associated with the            electronic devices are stored securely; and        -   Account database 10162 for storing account information for            user accounts, including user account information,            information and settings for linked hub devices and            electronic devices (e.g., hub device identifications), hub            device specific secrets, relevant user and hardware            characteristics (e.g., service tier, device model, storage            capacity, processing capabilities, etc.), user interface            settings, data review preferences, etc., where the            information for associated electronic devices includes, but            is not limited to, one or more device identifiers (e.g., MAC            address and UUID), device specific secrets, and displayed            titles.

Each of the above identified elements may be stored in one or more ofthe previously mentioned memory devices, and corresponds to a set ofinstructions for performing a function described above. The aboveidentified modules or programs (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures, or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various implementations. In some implementations, memory1006, optionally, stores a subset of the modules and data structuresidentified above. Furthermore, memory 1006, optionally, storesadditional modules and data structures not described above.

Furthermore, in some implementations, the functions of any of thedevices and systems described herein (e.g., hub device 180, hub serversystem 508, client device 504, smart device 204, smart home providerserver system 164, etc.) are interchangeable with one another and may beperformed by any other devices or systems, where the correspondingsub-modules of these functions may additionally and/or alternatively belocated within and executed by any of the devices and systems. As oneexample, the environment status module 10146 of the smart home providerserver system 164 may be a sub-module of the memory 606 of the hubdevice 180. The devices and systems shown in and described with respectto FIGS. 6-10 are merely illustrative, and different configurations ofthe modules for implementing the functions described herein are possiblein various implementations.

Attention is now directed towards implementations of graphical userinterfaces (“GUIs”) and associated processes that may be implemented ona computing device (e.g., the client device 504 in FIG. 8).

FIGS. 11A-11AW illustrate exemplary GUIs on a computing device (e.g.,client device 504) for displaying environment statuses, displayingdevice states, and providing feature sets for interacting with the smarthome environment, in accordance with some implementations. The GUIs inthese figures are used to illustrate the processes described below,including the method 1200. The GUIs may be provided by variousapplications (e.g., applications 824) executable on the computing devicefor interacting with a smart home environment 100 (e.g., FIG. 1), suchas a web browser, a smart home application for controlling or managingone or more devices of a smart home environment, and/or a third-partyapplication. While FIGS. 11A-11AW illustrate examples of GUIs, in otherimplementations, a GUI displays user-interface elements in arrangements,and in display areas with aspect ratios and dimensions, distinct fromthe implementations of FIGS. 11A-11AW.

FIG. 11A illustrates a GUI (e.g., a “home screen” or “card”) thatincludes an environment status graphic 1100-1, a profile affordance1102, a configuration affordance 1104, and device state graphics 1106.The environment status graphic 1100-1 is represented by a correspondingvisual mode that includes an icon (an optionally, an associated colorfor the ring encircling the icon, such as green) that indicates that thecurrent environment status corresponding to a non-critical alert level(e.g., a first one of multiple environment statuses). The device stategraphics 1106 represent respective device states of various devices(e.g., smart devices 204) in the smart home environment 100 (e.g.,1106-1 corresponding to a video feed of a camera 118, 1106-2corresponding to a thermostat 102, 1106-3 corresponding to a hazarddetector 104). FIG. 11B illustrates an alternative implementation of theGUI in FIG. 11A in which user-interface elements are re-arranged (e.g.,landscape vs. portrait device orientation).

FIG. 11C illustrates a GUI (e.g., an “environment mode screen” or“card”) displayed in response to detecting selection of the environmentstatus graphic 1100-1 in FIG. 11A (e.g., corresponding to a firstenvironment status). In this example, a corresponding feature set isprovided based on the current environment status corresponding to anon-critical alert level. As shown, environment mode affordances 1108are displayed, selection of which activate corresponding environmentmodes of the smart home environment (e.g., a “Home” mode, an “Away”mode). FIG. 11D illustrates an alternative implementation of the GUI inFIG. 11C.

FIG. 11E illustrates a GUI (e.g., a “profile screen” or “card”)displayed in response to detecting selection of the profile affordance1102 in FIG. 11A. In this example, the GUI includes a messagesaffordance 1110-1 (e.g., for accessing notifications related to thesmart home environment 100), an account affordance 1110-2 (e.g., foraccessing various user account settings/details for a user associatedwith the client device 504), a support affordance 1110-3 (e.g., foraccessing support related features for the application 824), and anenvironment addition affordance 1110-4 (e.g., for adding moreenvironments for control and management). Also shown are environmentselection affordances 1110-5 and 1110-6 corresponding to different smarthome environments 100, selection of which allows a user to control andmanage devices of the selected environment. FIGS. 11F through 11Hillustrate alternative implementations of the GUI in FIG. 11E. As shownin FIGS. 11G and 11H, the GUIs concurrently display portions of the“home screen” (FIG. 11A) and the “profile screen” (FIG. 11E).

FIG. 11I illustrates a GUI (e.g., a “configuration screen” or “card”)displayed in response to detecting selection of the configurationaffordance 1104 in FIG. 11A. In this example, the GUI includes a homeinformation affordance 1112-1 (e.g., for accessing device and otherdetails of a currently selected environment), an emergency contactaffordance 1112-2 (e.g., for configuring details of an emergencycontact), and a device addition affordance 1112-3 (e.g., for adding andconfiguring additional devices to the selected environment, such asadditional cameras 118 or hazard detectors 104). Also shown are deviceaffordances 1112-4 and 1112-5 corresponding to different devices of thesmart home environment 100, selection of which allows a user to accessand configure settings of a selected device.

FIGS. 11J-11W illustrate device-specific GUIs displayed in response toselection of the various device state graphics 1106.

More specifically, FIG. 11J illustrates a GUI (e.g., a “video feedscreen” or “card”) displayed in response to detecting selection of thedevice state graphic 1106-1 in FIG. 11A for a camera 118. In thisexample, the GUI includes a video feed 1114-1 and various camera deviceaffordances 1114-2 for controlling playback of the video feed. Thecamera device affordances 1114-2 also include optional affordances forutilizing a speaker of the camera 118 (e.g., “TALK” button), enhancingthe image quality of select portions of the video feed (e.g., “ENHANCE”button), enabling high-definition video quality (e.g., “HD QUALITY”button), and viewing recorded video/detected motion history (e.g.,“HISTORY” button). FIG. 11K illustrates an alternative implementation ofthe GUI in FIG. 11J.

FIG. 11L illustrates a GUI (e.g., a “thermostat screen” or “card”)displayed in response to detecting selection of the device state graphic1106-2 in FIG. 11A for a thermostat 102. In this example, the GUIincludes a temperature setpoint affordance 1116-1 (e.g., for indicatinga current temperature and for configuring temperature settings of thethermostat) and various thermostat device affordances 1116-2corresponding to various device features, such as adjusting anoperational mode of the thermostat (e.g., “COOL” button), adjusting fanspeed (e.g., “FAN” button), modifying scheduling settings (e.g.,“SCHEDULE” button), and accessing device history (e.g., “HISTORY”button). FIGS. 11M and 11N illustrate alternative implementations of theGUI in FIG. 11L.

FIG. 11O illustrates a GUI (e.g., a “hazard detector screen” or “card”)displayed in response to detecting selection of the device state graphic1106-3 in FIG. 11A for a hazard detector 104. In this example, the GUIincludes hazard device state indicators 1118-1 and 1118-2 (e.g., forindicating a device state of the hazard detector 104), a deviceinformation affordance 1120-1 (e.g., for displaying diagnosticinformation of the corresponding hazard detector 104), a checkupaffordance 1120-2 (e.g., for displaying instructions for performing adiagnostic test for the hazard detector 104), and a history affordance1120-3 (e.g., for viewing a diagnostic test history for the hazarddetector 104). In some implementations, the hazard device stateindicator 1118-1 corresponds to the visual mode of the device stategraphic 1106-3 in FIG. 11A (e.g., both the hazard device state indicator1118-1 and the device state graphic 1106-3 include yellow coloredrings). FIGS. 11P through 11R illustrate an alternative implementationof the GUI in FIG. 11O. As shown in FIG. 11R, the GUI concurrentlydisplays portions of the “home screen” (FIG. 11A) and the “hazarddetector screen” (FIG. 11O).

FIG. 11S illustrates a GUI displayed in response to detecting selectionof the device information affordance 1120-1 in FIG. 11O. As shown,diagnostic information of the corresponding hazard detector 104 isdisplayed, which indicates how recently components of the correspondinghazard detector 104 were checked for proper functionality. FIG. 11Tillustrates an alternative implementation of the GUI in FIG. 11S.

FIG. 11U illustrates a GUI displayed in response to detecting selectionof the checkup affordance 1120-2 in FIG. 11O. As shown, instructions forperforming a diagnostic test of the hazard detector 104 are displayed(e.g., “Press the button of a Nest Protest to run a Safety Checkup.”).FIGS. 11V and 11W illustrate alternative implementations of the GUI inFIG. 11U. As shown in FIG. 11W, the GUI concurrently displays portionsof the “home screen” (FIG. 11A) and the “hazard detector screen” (FIG.11O), and instructions for the diagnostic test (FIG. 11U).

FIGS. 11X-11AW illustrate various GUIs that may be displayed when thecurrent environment status corresponds to a heightened alert level.While the examples illustrate situations in which some hazard conditionis detected (e.g., smoke/carbon monoxide detected by the hazard detector104), similar GUIs may also be displayed in response to other situationsin which the current environment status corresponds to a heightenedalert level (e.g., detection of motion by a camera 118 in a restrictedzone, detection of unusually high/low temperatures by the thermostat102, etc.).

In particular, FIG. 11X illustrates a GUI (e.g., an “alertnotification,” “alert card,” “alarm card”) displayed in response todetermining that the current environment status corresponds to aheightened alert level (e.g., an environment status corresponding to analert level that is higher than that of the environment statusrepresented in FIG. 11A). The GUI indicates the cause of the currentenvironment status (e.g., detection of some level of smoke by the hazarddetector 104), and includes both an environment status graphic 1100-2and a device state indicator 1118-3. In contrast to FIG. 11A, theenvironment status graphic 1100-2 is represented by a correspondingvisual mode that includes an icon (and optionally, an associated colorfor the ring encircling the icon, such as a red) that indicates that thecurrent environment status corresponds to a heightened alert level(e.g., a house icon with an exclamation point). In this example, theenvironment status graphic 1100-2 also displays an animation as the GUIin FIG. 11X is displayed, where rings radiate outwards from theenvironment status graphic 1100-2. Similarly, the device state indicator1118-3 is distinct from the device state indicator 1118-2 in FIG. 11O(e.g., a triangle icon compared to a circle icon), indicating that thehazard detector 104 has a different device state than the device stateshown in FIG. 11O. In some implementations in which the currentenvironment status is based on the device state of a particular device,the visual mode of the environment status graphic 1100-2 matches thevisual mode of the corresponding device state graphic (e.g., if a smallamount of smoke is detected by the hazard detector 104, the environmentstatus graphic 1100-2 and the device state graphic 1106-3 both includeyellow rings).

The GUI in FIG. 11X also includes various command affordances 1122 forthe feature set corresponding to the current environment status. Asdescribed in greater detail below, the selectable affordances correspondto commands for performing device functions associated with the currentenvironment status. In this example, the GUI includes an emergencyinstructions affordance 1122-1 (e.g., for displaying a set of emergencyinstructions corresponding to the cause of the current environmentstatus), an emergency contact affordance 1122-2 (e.g., for contacting adesignated emergency contact), an alarm silence affordance 1122-3 (e.g.,for suppressing an audible alarm on a device), and an event camera feedaffordance 1122-4 (e.g., for accessing a camera device nearby analarming event). FIG. 11Y illustrates an alternative implementation ofthe GUI in FIG. 11X.

FIGS. 11Z and 11AA illustrate examples of other GUIs corresponding toalternative environment statuses. For example, FIG. 11Z illustrates aGUI that is displayed in response to detecting a threshold level ofcarbon monoxide, while FIG. 11AA illustrates a GUI that is displayed inresponse to detecting significant levels of smoke (e.g., more than thesmoke levels detected in FIG. 11X). Because FIGS. 11Z and 11AAillustrate GUIs for environment statuses that correspond to alert levelsthat are higher than those in FIG. 11X (e.g., corresponding to an“Emergency” versus a “Heads-up”), in some implementations, theenvironment status graphics 1100-3 and 1100-4 and the device stateindicators 1118-4 and 1118-5 represent different visual modes than thoseillustrated in FIG. 11X (e.g., red rings versus yellow rings, diamondicon versus triangle icon).

In addition to displaying the “alert notification” GUI of FIG. 11X,other optional GUIs may be displayed in response to a currentenvironment status corresponding to a heightened alert level.

An implementation is shown in FIG. 11AB, illustrating a GUI similar tothat of FIG. 11A (i.e., the “home screen”), but which includes anenvironment status graphic 1100-5 corresponding to an alert level (e.g.,“Emergency”) higher than that represented by the environment statusgraphic 1100-1 in FIG. 11A. In comparison to FIG. 11A, the device stategraphics 1106 in FIG. 11AB also reflect respective device states thatcorrespond to the heightened alert level. For example, the device stategraphic 1106-1 for the camera 118 illustrates a live video feed of thescene in which the emergency event is occurring (e.g., a smokingelectrical outlet). Furthermore, the device state graphic 1106-3 for thehazard detector 104 may change from a green to a red colored ring,reflecting the heightened alert level. Furthermore, in response todetecting selection of the environment status graphic 1100-5, the GUI ofFIG. 11X (i.e., the “alert notification”) and a corresponding featureset may be displayed and provided for selection. FIG. 11AC illustratesan alternative implementation of the GUI in FIG. 11AB.

Additionally and/or alternatively, the device states upon which aheightened current environment status is based may be displayed andviewed with the respective device-specific GUIs. For example, if thecurrent environment status is based on a detected hazard, the GUI ofFIG. 11AD (and FIG. 11O) corresponding to the hazard detector 104 may beaccessed to display the respective device state and detected hazard. Asshown in FIG. 11AD, the device state graphics 1118-3 and 1118-6 reflecta device state of the hazard detector 104 that corresponds to an alertlevel that is higher than that of FIG. 11O (e.g., red ring versus greenring, triangle icon versus circle icon). FIGS. 11AE and 11AF illustratealternative implementations of the GUI in FIG. 11AD.

Additionally and/or alternatively, an indication of the heightenedenvironment status may be displayed while displaying any GUI of thesmart home application. Referring to the example in FIG. 11AG, while thecomputing device displays the device-specific GUI for the hazarddetector 104 (e.g., GUI of FIG. 11O), an indicator 1124 may appear inresponse to detecting the heightened environment status. In response todetecting selection of the indicator 1124, the GUI of FIG. 11X (i.e.,the “alert notification”) and the corresponding feature set may bedisplayed and provided. FIGS. 11AH and 11AI illustrate alternativeimplementations of the GUI in FIG. 11AG.

Referring now to FIGS. 11AJ-11AW, illustrated are various GUIs that maybe displayed in response to detecting selection of the various commandaffordances 1122 in FIG. 11X, the command affordances corresponding tocommands for performing device functions associated with the currentenvironment status.

For example, FIG. 11AJ illustrates a GUI displayed in response todetecting selection of the emergency instructions affordance 1122-1 inFIG. 11X. In this example, the GUI includes a set of emergencyinstructions corresponding to a fire or smoke hazard event. FIG. 11AKillustrates an alternative implementation of the GUI in FIG. 11AJ.

FIG. 11AL illustrates a GUI displayed in response to detecting selectionof the alarm silence affordance 1122-3 in FIG. 11X. In this example, auser-interface element 1126-1 is displayed. In response to detecting acorresponding user input (e.g., a tap-and-hold touch gesture) on theuser-interface element 1126-1, the computing device sends a command forsilencing an audible alarm (e.g., an alarm sounding on a hazard detector104). FIG. 11AM illustrates an alternative implementation of the GUI inFIG. 11AL. The GUIs of FIGS. 11AN and 11AO are displayed in response todetecting initiation and completion of the corresponding user input.FIGS. 11AP through 11AR illustrate alternative GUIs for silencingplayback of audible device alarms, which include a user-interfaceelement 1126-2 corresponding to a swipe touch gesture.

As shown in FIG. 11AS, the “alert notification” GUI (and other GUIsdisplaying the current environment status/relevant device status) isupdated accordingly in response to the command for silencing the alarm,as shown by the device state graphic 1118-7 (e.g., a mute icon). In someimplementations, the current environment status corresponds to an alertlevel that does not permit silencing an alarm. As an example, referringto FIG. 11AT, the GUI indicates that the alarm may not be silenced ifsmoke levels exceed a predefined threshold (e.g., “Protect can't besilenced until smoke levels go down”). As another example, referring toFIG. 11AU, the alarm may also not be silenced if the computing device isa distance from the alarming event that exceeds a predefined threshold(e.g., in accordance with safety protocol, users who are not within acertain distance from a detected hazard event may not silence an alarm).

FIG. 11AV illustrates a GUI displayed in response to detecting selectionof the event camera feed affordance 1122-4 in FIG. 11X. In this example,the video feed of a camera device 118 nearby an alarming event isaccessed, allowing a user associated with the smart home environment 100to assess the event that triggered the alert level corresponding to thecurrent environment status. In this example, the GUI displays a livevideo feed of a detected fire hazard. FIG. 11AW illustrates analternative implementation of the GUI in FIG. 11AV.

The GUIs shown in FIGS. 11A-11AW are described in greater detail belowin conjunction with the method 1200 of FIGS. 12A-12F.

FIGS. 12A-12F are flow diagrams illustrating a method 1200 ofdetermining a set of features based on a current environment status, inaccordance with some implementations. In some implementations, themethod 1200 is performed by one or more electronic devices (e.g.,devices of a smart home environment 100, FIGS. 1 and 12; smart devices204 and/or hub device 180 of smart home network 202, FIG. 2) and/or oneor more server systems (e.g., smart home provider server system 164 ofFIGS. 1 and 2, hub server system 508 of FIG. 5). Thus, in someimplementations, the operations of the method 1200 described herein areentirely interchangeable, and respective operations of the method 1200are performed by any one or combination of the aforementioned devicesand systems. For ease of reference, the method herein will be describedas being performed by a computing device (e.g., client device 504, FIG.8) having one or more processors and memory (e.g., a computer memory orother computer-readable storage medium, such as memory 806) storinginstructions for execution by the one or more processors. FIGS. 12A-12Fcorrespond to the instructions stored in computer memory.

The computing device identifies (1202) a current environment status of aplurality of environment statuses for the smart home environment. Thesmart home environment includes one or more electronic devicesassociated with the computing device (e.g., any one or combination ofsmart devices 204 in the smart home environment 100 of FIG. 1, such as acamera 118, a thermostat 102, a hazard detector 104, and/or an alarmsystem 122). As described in greater detail below, the identifiedcurrent environment status for the smart home environment determines acorresponding feature set for interacting with the smart homeenvironment, feature sets including selectable commands for performingdevice functions associated with the current environment status.

An environment status represents a particular condition or state (or setof conditions or states) for a given environment that includes one ormore devices. Environment statuses may correspond to or indicate that adevice process or activity is in progress (e.g., environment statusesindicating that devices are establishing connectivity with other devices(e.g., pairing), devices are booting/rebooting, devices are in processof switching modes, user is accessing a device feature (e.g., speechout/intercom), device testing is in progress, device is locking, user islogging into device and/or application for managing smart homeenvironment, fire drill involving device is being conducted, etc.).Environment statuses may also correspond to or indicate a general deviceoperability of some or all of the devices in an environment. A generaldevice operability may be such that user attention is not needed (e.g.,environment statuses indicating that devices are generally operable,devices are powered and in an “ON” state, user is viewing device and/orapplication, setup (e.g., pairing) or other process (e.g., modeswitching) was completed successfully, etc.), while in other situations,a general device operability is such that user attention is needed(e.g., environment statuses indicating device connectivity issues (e.g.,loose/disconnected physical wiring), device connection failures (e.g.,failed device pairing, loss of Internet connectivity, no devicesdetected), device power/battery issues (e.g., low-power devices havingno battery power remaining, power outage), software update required,etc.). Environment statuses may also correspond to, indicate, or alert auser as to the occurrence of an event. Events may be hazard events,which include the detection of smoke, carbon monoxide, chemicals, fire,flooding, extreme weather, and/or other environmental incidentsimplicating user health and safety. Events may also include thedetection of motion (e.g., within a predefined zone of interest, withinany portion of a scene under surveillance, etc.), a security breach(e.g., opening of a door, window, etc.), and/or other situationsinvolving user safety. Events may also correspond to a predefined devicethreshold being satisfied (e.g., room temperature exceeds a predefinedsafety temperature threshold for a thermostat 102, threshold level ofsmoke/carbon monoxide detected, etc.).

In some implementations, each of the plurality of environment statusesfor the smart home environment corresponds (1204) to a respective alertlevel of a predefined range of alert levels. Ranges of alert levelsprovide a relative measure as to the criticality, severity, urgency, orsignificance of a given environment status and the events, situations,or conditions to which they correspond or indicate. As an example, arange may include three distinct alert levels. Here, based on this rangeof alert levels, an environment status indicating low battery of adevice may correspond to a first alert level (e.g., a “non-critical”alert level), whereas an environment status indicating detected motionby a camera may correspond to a second alert level that is higher thanthe first alert level (e.g., a “warning” alert level), and anenvironment status indicating a detected fire hazard may correspond to athird alert level that is higher than both the first and second alertlevels (e.g., an “emergency” alert level).

In some implementations, the current environment status is (1206) afirst environment status of the plurality of environment statuses andcorresponds to a first alert level of the predefined range of alertlevels. The first alert level may, for example, correspond to a lowestalert level in the range of alert levels, and therefore indicates thatthe current environment status represents a non-critical condition(e.g., all devices of the smart home environment have passed testing andare in an idle state).

In some implementations, the current environment status is (1208) asecond environment status of the plurality of environment statuses andcorresponds to a second alert level of the predefined range of alertlevels that is higher than the first alert level. Here, the second alertlevel may, for example, correspond to a heightened alert level, wherethe corresponding second environment status indicates that an event orcondition warranting the attention of an associated user has occurred oris occurring. For example, in some implementations, a first one of theone or more electronic devices is (1210) a hazard detector device (e.g.,hazard detector 104), and the second environment status corresponds tothe detection of smoke levels satisfying a first predefined smokethreshold. In some implementations, the first predefined smoke thresholdis one of multiple predefined smoke thresholds which correspond tovarying amounts of detected smoke. For example, the environment statusgraphic 1100-2 in FIG. 11X visually represents an environment statuscorresponding to the detection of smoke levels satisfying a first smokethreshold (e.g., “Heads-Up” alert), whereas the environment statusgraphic 1100-4 in FIG. 11AA visually represents an environment statuscorresponding to the detection of smoke levels satisfying a highersecond smoke threshold (e.g., “Emergency” alert).

In some implementations, a first one of the one or more electronicdevices is (1212) a camera device (e.g., camera 118), and the secondenvironment status corresponds to the detection of motion in apredefined region monitored by the camera device. Alternatively (asdescribed in greater detail below with respect to different devicestates of a camera device), the second environment status may correspondto the detection of motion events of a particular category (e.g., motionof an unidentified user, an animal, etc.), the detection of motion at aparticular location (e.g., bedroom, patio, etc.), or the detection ofmotion at a particular time (e.g., at night) or on a particular day(e.g., during the weekdays).

Referring now to FIG. 12B, in some implementations, the currentenvironment status is (1214) a third environment status of the pluralityof environment statuses and corresponds to a third alert level of thepredefined range of alert levels that is higher than the first andsecond alert level. For example, given three distinct alert levels in apredefined range, the third alert level may correspond to a criticalalert level, where the third environment status indicates that anemergency event or condition has occurred or is occurring. For example,in some implementations, a first one of the one or more electronicdevices is (1216) a hazard detector device, and the third environmentstatus corresponds to the detection of smoke levels satisfying a firstand second predefined smoke threshold (e.g., large amounts of smoke,significant fire hazard).

In some implementations, the current environment status is (1218) afourth environment status of the plurality of environment statuses andcorresponds to a fourth alert level of the predefined range of alertlevels that is higher than the first alert level but lower than thesecond alert level. In some implementations, a first one of the one ormore electronic devices is (1220) a hazard detector device, and thefourth environment status corresponds to the detection of smoke levelssatisfying a first predefined smoke threshold but not satisfying asecond predefined smoke threshold. In contrast to the example above, thefourth environment status may, for example, correspond to the detectionof only minor levels of smoke not rising to the level of an emergency(e.g., alert level in FIG. 11X corresponding to a “Heads-Up,” incomparison to the alert level in FIG. 11AA corresponding to an“Emergency”).

The implementations above describe only examples of a range of alertlevels and the environment statuses to which they correspond. In otherimplementations, however, each alert level of a range of alert levelsmay correspond to any one or combination of other environment statusesrepresenting different conditions or states of a particular device(e.g., for a hazard detector 104, alert levels correspond to varyingamounts—or different types—of detected hazards), or multiple types ofdevices (e.g., a first alert level corresponding to an environmentstatus indicating connectivity failures of camera 118, and alsocorresponding to an environment status indicating a required softwareupdate for a thermostat 102). Correspondence between alert levels andvarious environment statuses may therefore be predefined in any manner,and is not limited to any of the examples or implementations describedherein.

Referring now to FIG. 12C, in some implementations, identifying (1204)the current environment status includes identifying (1222) for at leastsome of the one or more electronic devices associated with a computingdevice, a respective device state of a plurality of respective devicesstates. The current environment status is based on the one or moreidentified device states. As described above with respect to environmentstatuses, device states similarly represent a condition or state of aparticular device. Given differences in functionality and availablefeatures, different devices have distinct (although sometimesoverlapping) sets of device states. As an example, a hazard detector 104(e.g., FIG. 1) may include different states corresponding to differenttypes of detected hazards (e.g., different states for smoke, carbonmonoxide, fire), and for each type of hazard, a severity of the detectedhazard (e.g., different states for low, medium, and high smoke levels).Devices may also have different states corresponding to differentdiagnostic (e.g., carbon monoxide test, smoke test, testscompleted/failed, battery failure, sensor failure), calibration, orsetup processes (e.g., device pairing, booting/rebooting, softwareupdate needed/in progress, reset required), and/or different devicemodes (e.g., night light mode, “Home/Away” modes). As another example, acamera 118 (e.g., FIG. 1) may have different states for detected motion,such as different states for the different predefined zones of interestin which motion is detected, categories of detected motion (e.g., motionof an unidentified user, animal, etc.), and/or locations in which motionis detected (e.g., front door, patio, bedroom).

Thus, as an example, if an identified device state of a hazard detector104 indicates that smoke is detected in a premises, the currentenvironment status is an environment status corresponding to aheightened alert level (e.g., a “warning” alert level) as a result ofthe identified device state.

In some implementations, the current environment status and itscorresponding alert level is based on a combination of identified devicestates. For example, in some implementations, a respective environmentstatus may require that a threshold number of devices (e.g., more thantwo, all, etc.) have a specified device state (e.g., the currentenvironment status corresponds to a heightened alert level only if twoor more hazard detectors 104 of the smart home environment 100 detectsmoke).

In some implementations, the one or more devices in the smart homeenvironment have respective alert priorities, and the currentenvironment status and its corresponding alert level are based on adevice of the one or more devices having the highest alert priority. Inone example, the current environment status is based on the device stateof a hazard detector 104 located in a home bedroom having a higher alertpriority than a hazard detector 104 located in an office workplace. Asanother example, the current environment status is based on the devicestate of a camera 118 as opposed to a thermostat 102, if camera devices,as a device type, have a higher alert priority than thermostat devices.

Correspondence between device states and environment statuses may bepredefined. Additionally and/or alternatively, the current environmentstatus may be based on the respective alert levels of the device states.As with environment statuses, each device state of a device maycorrespond to a particular alert level of a respective range of alertlevels for the device, where alert levels indicate a relativecriticality, severity, urgency, or significance of a device state. Forexample, a device state of a hazard detector 104 indicating connectivityissues (e.g., with device pairing) may have a lower relative alert levelthan a device state corresponding to the detection of a fire hazard.

Thus, in some implementations, the computing device is associated (1224)with two or more electronic devices having respective device states, andthe current environment status is based (1226) on a first one of the oneor more identified device states corresponding to a greatest alert levelof a respective predefined range of alert levels for the two or moreelectronic devices. For example, a smart home environment 100 mayinclude a first and second hazard detector 104, where the first hazarddetector has a device state indicating that device testing is inprogress (corresponding to a first alert level) and the second hazarddetector has a different device state corresponding to the detection ofa fire hazard (corresponding to a second alert level that is higher thanthe first alert level). Consequently, given that the device state of thesecond hazard detector (e.g., fire detected) corresponds to a higheralert level than the device state of the first hazard detector (e.g.,testing in progress), the current environment status (e.g., anenvironment status corresponding to a heightened alert level) will bebased on and reflect the device state of the second hazard detector,rather than the first hazard detector.

In some implementations, identifying (1204) the current environmentstatus includes determining (1228) whether a corresponding alert levelfor at least one of the one or more identified respective statessatisfies an alert threshold. An alert threshold for a respective devicemay be a predefined alert level that the alert level of an identifieddevice state must satisfy as a minimum. In one example, a first alertlevel of a respective range of alert levels for a hazard detector 104may correspond to non-critical device states (e.g., testing in progress,software update needed), whereas a second alert level may correspond tosemi-critical device states (e.g., small amount of smoke detected) and athird alert level may correspond to critical device states (e.g., largeamount of smoke/fire detected). In this example, if the alert thresholdis the second alert level (i.e., semi-critical device states of thehazard detector 104), the smart home environment 100 has a heightenedenvironment status only if the alert level of the identified devicestate corresponds to at least a second alert level (e.g., at least somehazard is detected).

In some implementations, identifying (1204) the current environmentstatus includes (1230) receiving an indication of the currentenvironment status from a remote server distinct from the computingdevice (e.g., device states of devices in the smart home environment 100are transmitted to the smart home provider server system 164 of FIGS. 1and 10, which identifies the current environment status of the smarthome environment 100 and transmits the current environment status to theclient device 504).

Referring now to FIG. 12D, after identifying the current environmentstatus, the computing device determines (1232), based on the currentenvironment status of the smart home environment, one of a plurality ofdifferent feature sets for a smart home application executable on thecomputing device for interacting with the smart home environment. Thedetermined feature set includes selectable commands for performingdevice functions associated with the current environment status.Commands may include instructions executable by respective devices whichcause devices to perform one or more device functions. Commands may alsoinclude instructions for configuring or calibrating device settings(e.g., adjusting temperature set points for a thermostat 102).

In some implementations, based on the first environment status(identified in 1206, corresponding to the first alert level), thedetermined feature set is (1234) a first feature set of the plurality ofdifferent feature sets. In some implementations, the first feature setincludes (1236) a selectable command for switching a current mode of thesmart home environment (e.g., switching between “Home” and “Away” modesfor the smart home environment by selecting an environment modeaffordance 1108 in FIG. 11C, where selecting an “Away” mode commands thethermostat 102 to enable predefined temperature setpoints).

In some implementations, based on the second environment status(identified in 1208, corresponding to a second alert level that ishigher than the first alert level), the determined feature set is (1238)a second feature set of the plurality of different feature sets.

In some implementations, the second feature set includes (1240) aselectable command for suppressing the current environment status. Thecommand for suppressing the current environment status may include acommand for silencing an audible alarm (e.g., selecting an alarm silenceaffordance 1122-3 in FIG. 11X for silencing an alarm sounding on ahazard detector 104), or removing an alert notification from clientdevice/other devices (e.g., dismissing the “alert card” in FIG. 11X).

In some implementations, the one or more electronic devices include(1242) one or more camera devices, and the second feature set includes aselectable command for accessing a video stream of at least one of theone or more camera devices. For example, selecting the event camera feedaffordance 1122-4 in FIG. 11X executes a command for accessing a videofeed of a camera 118 in the smart home environment 100. In someimplementations, the current environment status is based on a respectivedevice state of a first one of the one or more electronic devices andthe one or more camera devices includes two or more camera devices,where accessing (1242) the video stream includes accessing a firstcamera device of the two or more camera devices that is closest inproximity to the first electronic device (e.g., the current environmentstatus is based on the device state of the hazard detector 104indicating that smoke is detected, where in response to selecting theevent camera feed affordance 1122-4 in FIG. 11X, the video feed of thecamera closest to the hazard detector 104 is displayed, as shown in FIG.11AV).

In some implementations, the second feature set includes (1244) aselectable command for contacting an emergency contact. For example,selecting the emergency contact affordance 1122-2 in FIG. 11X executes acommand for contacting a designated emergency contact (e.g., using thecomputing device to dial a phone number of the designated emergencycontact, sending an electronic notification to the designated emergencycontact, etc.).

In some implementations, the second feature set includes (1246) acommand for displaying a set of emergency instructions corresponding tothe current environment status. For example, selecting the emergencyinstructions affordance 1122-1 in FIG. 11X displays text for acorresponding security protocol, as shown in FIG. 11AJ.

Referring now to FIG. 12E, in some implementations, based on the firstenvironment status (identified in 1214, corresponding to a third alertlevel that is higher than the first and second alert level), thedetermined feature set is (1248) a third feature set of the plurality ofdifferent feature sets. In some implementations, the third feature setexcludes (1250) a selectable command for suppressing the currentenvironment status. For example, if the third alert level corresponds toan emergency event in which a significant amount of smoke is detected, acommand for silencing an alarm sounding on the hazard detector 104 isnot available or selectable by a user, as shown in FIG. 11AT. Thus,while the command for suppressing the current environment status may beincluded in another feature set determined based on one environmentstatus (e.g., small amount of smoke detected), the command is excludedfrom a feature set determined based on a different environment status(e.g., significant amount of smoke detected).

The implementations above describe only examples of determined featuresets and the environment statuses (and respective alert levels) to whichthey correspond. In other implementations, however, a particular featureset may correspond to any environment status, and may include any one orcombination of selectable commands (e.g., commands for displayingemergency instructions and contacting an emergency contact areselectable only when the current environment status is a thirdenvironment status (e.g., “Emergency”), and a command for silencing analarm is selectable only when the current environment status is a secondenvironment status (e.g., “Heads-Up”)). Correspondence between featuresets and various environment statuses may therefore be predefined in anymanner, and is not limited to any of the examples or implementationsdescribed herein.

In some implementations, the computing device displays (1252) an alertnotification indicating the current environment status for the smarthome environment. An example is illustrated in FIG. 11X, where an “alarmcard” indicating the current environment status (e.g., detection ofsmoke) is displayed on the computing device in response to detecting theheightened environment status. In this example, the “alarm card” of FIG.11X is overlaid on the “home screen” of FIG. 11A (or any active screenbeing viewed within the smart home application).

After determining (1232) the feature set based on the currentenvironment status, the computing device provides (1254) the determinedfeature set to an instance of the smart home application, therebyenabling the instance to offer user interactions consistent with theselectable commands. In some implementations, a GUI is displayed on thecomputing device of a user associated with the smart home environment100, which includes various user-interface elements corresponding toselectable commands (e.g., the GUI of FIG. 11X, which includes commandaffordances 1122, selection of which sends commands for performingvarious device functions). In some implementations, the determinedfeature set is provided (e.g., displayed on a GUI as selectableuser-interface elements) in response to detecting a user inputindicating selection of a displayed environment status indicatorcorresponding to the current environment status (e.g., user inputdetected on environment status indicator 1100-5, FIG. 11AB, in responseto which the GUI of FIG. 11AA and command affordances 1122 aredisplayed).

In some implementations, after providing (1254) the determined featureset to the instance of the smart home application, a user input isdetected, indicating selection of a command of the determined featureset. In response to detecting the user input, the selected command isexecuted by the computing device (e.g., using the computing device todial an emergency contact) or is sent towards and for execution by oneor more of the one or more electronic devices in the smart homeenvironment (e.g., command for silencing alarm is sent to the hazarddetector 104).

In some implementations, an environment status indicator is provided(1256) that indicates the current environment status of the smart homeenvironment. In some implementations, the computing device displays auser interface icon that reflects the current environment status (e.g.,environment status graphic 1100-1, FIG. 11A). In some implementations,providing the environment status indicator includes playing a soundeffect (e.g., a beep, chirp, or chime corresponding to a detectedhazard), providing tactile feedback (e.g., vibration), and/or displayinga visual effect (e.g., flashing screen, rings radiating outwards fromthe environment status graphic 1100-1 in FIG. 11X).

In some implementations, the status indicator is (1258) a statusgraphic, and providing the status indicator comprises displaying thestatus graphic in a respective location of a display area, wherein thestatus graphic switches between distinct visual modes each correspondingto a distinct status of the plurality of statuses. Referring to theexample in FIG. 11A, an environment status graphic 1100-1 (ahouse-shaped icon including an outline of a door) is displayed thatcorresponds to a first environment status. As shown in FIG. 11AB, theenvironment status graphic switches between distinct visual modes as aresult of a heightened environment status, where the environment statusgraphic 1100-2 (FIG. 11AB) is distinct from the environment statusgraphic 1100-1 (FIG. 11A) (e.g., transformation into a house-shaped iconwith an exclamation point). In some implementations, each of thedistinct visual modes corresponds (1260) to a distinct color. Forexample, although not illustrated, the environment status graphic 1100-1in FIG. 11A (indicating a first environment status corresponding to anon-critical status of the smart home environment) may be represented bya green ring, whereas the environment status graphic 1100-2 in FIG. 11AB(indicating a second environment status corresponding to the detectionof some smoke) may be represented by a yellow ring, and the environmentstatus graphic 1100-4 in FIG. 11AA (indicating a third environmentstatus corresponding to the detection of significant smoke) may berepresented by a red ring. In some implementations, the distinct visualmodes may correspond to the display of different visual effects (e.g.,soft glow, object rotation, flash, screen brightening/dimming, etc.).

Referring now to FIG. 12F, in some implementations, the computing devicedisplays (1262), in respective locations of the display area, one ormore state graphics corresponding to respective device states of the oneor more electronic devices, wherein the state graphics switch betweendistinct visual modes each corresponding to a distinct state of arespective plurality of states. Displaying the one or more stategraphics is performed concurrently with and separately from displayingthe status graphic. FIG. 11A illustrates a GUI that includes anenvironment status graphic 1100-1 and device state graphics 1106-1through 1106-3 corresponding to a camera 118, a thermostat 102, and ahazard detector 104, respectively. In some implementations, a first oneof the one or more electronic devices is (1264) a hazard detectordevice, and the respective device state of the hazard detector devicecorresponds to a respective alert level of a predefined range of alertlevels for the hazard detector device. Thus, in some implementations,each of the distinct visual modes corresponds to a distinct alert levelfor device states of a hazard detector 104 (e.g., device state graphic1106-3 in FIG. 11A corresponds to a first device state and first alertlevel (e.g., a non-critical state in which no hazard are detected) andis represented by a green ring, whereas the device state graphic 1106-3in FIG. 11AB corresponds to a second device state of the hazard detector104 (e.g., emergency state smoke is detected) and is represented by ared ring).

In some implementations, a displayed visual mode of the environmentstatus graphic is based on a displayed visual mode of a device stategraphic, of the one or more device state graphics, corresponding to adevice whose device state the current environment status is based upon.As an example, if the current environment status is a second environmentstatus (e.g., fire hazard detected) as a result of an identified devicestate of a hazard detector 104, both the environment status graphic andthe device state graphic of the hazard detector 104 will display thesame visual mode (e.g., red rings).

In some implementations, a first one of the one or more electronicdevices is (1266) a camera device, and displaying the one or more devicestate graphics includes displaying a video feed of the camera device ina respective location of the display area (e.g., device state graphic1106-1, FIG. 11A).

In some implementations, a first one of the one or more electronicdevices is (1268) a thermostat device, and displaying the one or moredevice state graphics includes displaying a respective device stategraphic for the thermostat device indicating a current operational modeof the thermostat device, a current temperature reading, and/or devicesettings for the thermostat device. An example is shown in FIG. 11B,where the device state graphic 1106-2 displays a blue color when in a“cooling” operational mode. Furthermore, the device state graphic 1106-2displays a current temperature reading (e.g., 60°), and also a currentdevice setting (e.g., a leaf symbol indicating an energy savingssetting).

For situations in which the systems discussed above collect informationabout users, the users may be provided with an opportunity to opt in/outof programs or features that may collect personal information (e.g.,information about a user's preferences or usage of a smart device). Inaddition, in some implementations, certain data may be anonymized in oneor more ways before it is stored or used, so that personallyidentifiable information is removed. For example, a user's identity maybe anonymized so that the personally identifiable information cannot bedetermined for or associated with the user, and so that user preferencesor user interactions are generalized (for example, generalized based onuser demographics) rather than associated with a particular user.

Although some of various drawings illustrate a number of logical stagesin a particular order, stages that are not order dependent may bereordered and other stages may be combined or broken out. While somereordering or other groupings are specifically mentioned, others will beobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, so the ordering andgroupings presented herein are not an exhaustive list of alternatives.Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages could be implementedin hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific implementations. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the scope of the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Manymodifications and variations are possible in view of the aboveteachings. The implementations were chosen in order to best explain theprinciples underlying the claims and their practical applications, tothereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the implementationswith various modifications as are suited to the particular usescontemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: at a computing devicehaving one or more processors and memory storing instructions forexecution by the one or more processors, wherein the computing device isassociated with a plurality of electronic devices in a smart homeenvironment, the plurality of electronic devices together composing thesmart home environment at least in part, and the smart home environmenthaving a plurality of environment statuses, each of the plurality ofenvironment statuses corresponding to an alert level in a hierarchy ofthree or more alert levels defined to indicate a relative measure ofcriticality, severity, urgency, or significance of a status of the smarthome environment, the three or more alert levels including at least anon-critical alert level, a heightened alert level, and an emergencyalert level concerning the status of the smart home environment:identifying, for each of at least some of the plurality of electronicdevices, a device state of the electronic device; determining a currentenvironment status from the hierarchy of three or more alert levels ofthe plurality of environment statuses for the smart home environmentbased on a combination of the plurality of identified device states,wherein the current environment status for the smart home environment isseparate from and in addition to the plurality of identified devicestates for the plurality of electronic devices; concurrently displaying,in a display area of the computing device, an environment statusindicator that indicates the current environment status of the smarthome environment and a plurality of device state icons corresponding torespective device states of at least some of the plurality of electronicdevices, wherein at least one of the respective device statescorresponds to a device state alert level in a second hierarchy of threeor more second alert levels defined to indicate a relative measure ofcriticality, severity, urgency, or significance of a device state of afirst one of the plurality of electronic devices, the three or moresecond alert levels including at least a non-critical alert level, aheightened alert level, and an emergency alert level concerning the atleast one of the respective device states; in response to adetermination of the current environment status, determining one of aplurality of different feature sets for a smart home applicationexecutable on the computing device for interacting with the smart homeenvironment, wherein the determined feature set comprises selectablecommands for performing device functions associated with the currentenvironment status; and providing the determined feature set to aninstance of the smart home application, thereby enabling the instance tooffer user interactions consistent with the selectable commands; whereinthe plurality of electronic devices include a hazard detector devicehaving two or more threshold levels, and each of the three or more alertlevels of the plurality of environment statuses is at least partiallydefined based on the two or more threshold levels of the hazard detectordevice.
 2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storingone or more programs for execution by one or more processors of acomputing device associated with a plurality of electronic devices in asmart home environment, the plurality of electronic devices togethercomposing the smart home environment at least in part, and the smarthome environment having a plurality of environment statuses, the one ormore programs including instructions for: identifying, for each of atleast some of the plurality of electronic devices, a device state of theelectronic device; determining a current environment status from thehierarchy of three or more alert levels of the plurality of environmentstatuses for the smart home environment based on a combination of theplurality of identified device states, wherein: the current environmentstatus for the smart home environment is separate from and in additionto the plurality of identified device states for the plurality ofelectronic devices; each of the plurality of environment statusescorresponding to an alert level in a hierarchy of three or more alertlevels defined to indicate a relative measure of criticality, severity,urgency, or significance of a status of the smart home environment; andthe three or more alert levels includes at least a non-critical alertlevel, a heightened alert level, and an emergency alert level concerningthe status of the smart home environment; concurrently displaying, in adisplay area of the computing device, an environment status indicatorthat indicates the current environment status of the smart homeenvironment and a plurality of device state icons corresponding torespective device states of at least some of the plurality of electronicdevices, wherein at least one of the respective device statescorresponds to a device state alert level in a second hierarchy of threeor more second alert levels defined to indicate a relative measure ofcriticality, severity, urgency, or significance of a device state of afirst one of the plurality of electronic devices, the three or moresecond alert levels including at least a non-critical alert level, aheightened alert level, and an emergency alert level concerning the atleast one of the respective device states; in response to adetermination of the current environment status, determining one of aplurality of different feature sets for a smart home applicationexecutable on the computing device for interacting with the smart homeenvironment, wherein the determined feature set comprises selectablecommands for performing device functions associated with the currentenvironment status; and providing the determined feature set to aninstance of the smart home application, thereby enabling the instance tooffer user interactions consistent with the selectable commands; whereinthe plurality of electronic devices include a hazard detector devicehaving two or more threshold levels, and each of the three or more alertlevels of the plurality of environment statuses is at least partiallydefined based on the two or more threshold levels of the hazard detectordevice.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the current environment statusis a second environment status of the plurality of environment statusesand the determined feature set is a second feature set of the pluralityof different feature sets, the second environment status correspondingto the heightened alert level in the hierarchy of alert levels that ishigher than the non-critical alert level.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein a second one of the plurality of electronic devices is a hazarddetector device, and the second environment status corresponds to oneof: the detection of smoke levels satisfying a first predefined smokethreshold, the detection of temperature satisfying a first predefinedtemperature threshold, and the detection of carbon monoxide levelssatisfying a first predefined monoxide threshold.
 5. The method of claim3, wherein the second feature set includes a selectable command forsuppressing the current environment status.
 6. The method of claim 3,wherein the second environment status corresponds to detection of motionof a predefined category, motion in a predefined region, or motion thatoccurs at a predefined time frame by a camera device.
 7. The method ofclaim 3, wherein: the plurality of electronic devices include one ormore camera devices; and the second feature set includes a selectablecommand for accessing a video stream of at least one of the one or morecamera devices.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein: the currentenvironment status is based on a respective device state of a first oneof the plurality of electronic devices; the one or more camera devicesincludes two or more camera devices; and accessing the video streamcomprises: determining a first camera device of the two or more cameradevices that is closest in proximity to the first electronic device; andaccessing the first camera device.
 9. The method of claim 3, wherein thesecond feature set includes a selectable command for contacting anemergency contact.
 10. The method of claim 3, wherein the currentenvironment status is a third environment status of the plurality ofenvironment statuses and the determined feature set is a third featureset of the plurality of different feature sets, the third environmentstatus corresponding to the emergency alert level in the hierarchy ofalert levels that is higher than the non-critical alert level and theheightened alert level, and wherein the third feature set excludes aselectable command for suppressing the current environment status. 11.The method of claim 1, wherein a second one of the plurality ofelectronic devices is a camera device, and displaying the plurality ofdevice state icons comprises displaying at least one image from a livevideo feed of the camera device in a first one of the plurality ofdevice state icons.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein a third one ofthe plurality of electronic devices is a thermostat, and displaying theplurality of device state icons comprises displaying at least anoperational mode, a current temperature reading and a current devicesetting of the thermostat in a second one of the plurality of devicestate icons.
 13. A computing device associated with a plurality ofelectronic devices in a smart home environment, the plurality ofelectronic devices together composing the smart home environment atleast in part, and the smart home environment having a plurality ofenvironment statuses, the computing device comprising: a processor; andmemory for storing one or more programs for execution by the processor,the one or more programs including instructions for: identifying, foreach of at least some of the plurality of electronic devices, a devicestate of the electronic device; determining a current environment statusfrom the hierarchy of three or more alert levels of the plurality ofenvironment statuses for the smart home environment based on acombination of the plurality of identified device states, wherein: thecurrent environment status for the smart home environment is separatefrom and in addition to the plurality of identified device states forthe plurality of electronic devices; each of the plurality ofenvironment statuses corresponding to an alert level in a hierarchy ofthree or more alert levels defined to indicate a relative measure ofcriticality, severity, urgency, or significance of a status of the smarthome environment; and the three or more alert levels includes at least anon-critical alert level, a heightened alert level, and an emergencyalert level concerning the status of the smart home environment;concurrently displaying, in a display area of the computing device, anenvironment status indicator that indicates the current environmentstatus of the smart home environment and a plurality of device stateicons corresponding to respective device states of at least some of theplurality of electronic devices, wherein at least one of the respectivedevice states corresponds to a device state alert level in a secondhierarchy of three or more second alert levels defined to indicate arelative measure of criticality, severity, urgency, or significance of adevice state of a first one of the plurality of electronic devices, thethree or more second alert levels including at least a non-criticalalert level, a heightened alert level, and an emergency alert levelconcerning the at least one of the respective device states; in responseto a determination of the current environment status, determining one ofa plurality of different feature sets for a smart home applicationexecutable on the computing device for interacting with the smart homeenvironment, wherein the determined feature set comprises selectablecommands for performing device functions associated with the currentenvironment status; and providing the determined feature set to aninstance of the smart home application, thereby enabling the instance tooffer user interactions consistent with the selectable commands; whereinthe plurality of electronic devices include a hazard detector devicehaving two or more threshold levels, and each of the three or more alertlevels of the plurality of environment statuses is at least partiallydefined based on the two or more threshold levels of the hazard detectordevice.
 14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the environmentstatus indicator is an environment status graphic, and the environmentstatus graphic switches between distinct visual modes each correspondingto a distinct environment status of the plurality of environmentstatuses.
 15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the device stategraphics switch between distinct visual modes each corresponding to adistinct device state of a respective plurality of device states, andwherein displaying the plurality of device state graphics is performedconcurrently with and separately from displaying the environment statusindicator.
 16. The computing device of claim 13, comprising instructionsfor displaying a video feed of a camera device in a respective locationof the display area.
 17. The computing device of claim 13, comprisinginstructions for receiving an indication of the current environmentstatus from a remote server distinct from the computing device.
 18. Thecomputer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein: the plurality ofelectronic devices comprise two or more electronic devices havingrespective device states; and the current environment status is based ona first one of the plurality of identified device states correspondingto the emergency alert level of the hierarchy of alert levels for thetwo or more electronic devices.
 19. The computer readable storage mediumof claim 2, further comprising instructions for displaying an alertnotification indicating the current environment status for the smarthome environment.
 20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2,further comprising instructions for: detecting a user input indicatingselection of the displayed environment status indicator; and providingthe determined feature set to the instance of the smart home applicationin response to detecting the user input indicating selection of thedisplayed environment status indicator.